PETERSBURG, Va. — A startling incident unfolded early Saturday at Virginia State University when law enforcement arrested a 19-year-old man hiding inside a dormitory closet. The young man, now identified, is linked to a late-night campus shooting that left five individuals injured, with one victim in critical condition.
Camron Harris, residing in Henrico, Virginia, was apprehended, despite not being enrolled at the university, according to the Chesterfield County Police. Notably, four of the five victims also were not students. The injured parties, ranging from 17 to 23 years old, included one 20-year-old student who has since been discharged from the hospital. The authorities have yet to disclose the identities of those affected by the event.
While the motive behind the shooting remains unclear, police have secured eight felony warrants against Harris. The charges include malicious wounding and utilizing a firearm while committing a felony. It is uncertain whether Harris has legal representation, as efforts to contact his family by phone have been unsuccessful.
Earlier statements from the university indicated that multiple suspects were being sought, although no further updates were provided by police on Saturday evening. University officials reassured the community that no immediate threat was detected, prompting the lifting of a temporary campus lockdown.
The devastating event, occurring around 1:30 a.m., triggered a lockdown as students were preparing for the upcoming academic year. This tragic shooting has had a profound impact on the university and surrounding community.
It happened near the university’s Quad Annexes, where campus police and Chesterfield County officers discovered five people suffering from gunshot wounds outside campus dormitories.
According to the university’s website, residence halls opened for students a week ago, and classes resume on Monday. Many students had just completed the university’s “New Trojans Experience” for incoming students.
“We recognize the concern this incident has caused among our students, parents, alumni, friends, and the broader VSU community,” the university statement said. “The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority.”
The campus had a large law enforcement presence on Saturday morning, and the university informed students that they should monitor their email for additional safety measures and information about support services. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office were assisting, county police said.
Virginia State University is a historically Black university located in Ettrick, Virginia, about 24 miles south of the state capital of Richmond. The public university has about 5,700 students and was the first fully state-supported four-year college for Black Americans. Most of its students are undergraduates.
The university has grown in recent years while attempting to improve safety and retain its historic charm, said Arthur Fridrich, the university’s former director of distance education, who lives near the campus and visits regularly. A shooting like this just as students return for classes is heartbreaking for the community, he said.
“To start a new year with this event is very tragic. It casts a shadow in the minds of all students, and for some it will be difficult to rid their minds of this term,” Fridrich said. “For those that were shot, my heart bleeds. I hope that they all mend and somehow do not let this event define their lives.”
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