Five Shot Outside Virginia State University Residence Halls; One Critical

A shooting incident outside residence halls at Virginia State University left five people wounded, one critically, in the early hours of Saturday. Chesterfield County Police responded to the scene around 1:28 a.m. after receiving reports of gunfire.

Upon arrival, officers discovered five individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. All five were transported to local hospitals. While one victim remains in critical condition, the injuries sustained by the other four are not considered life-threatening, according to police statements.

The university implemented a lockdown as law enforcement agencies, including Virginia State Troopers, converged on the area near the Quad Annexes. The lockdown has since been lifted, but a significant police presence continues as the investigation unfolds. The identities of the victims and their affiliations with the university have not yet been released.

The shooting occurred just before the commencement of the new academic year at the historically Black university, which was founded in 1882 and is located in Ettrick, Virginia. Police are reportedly investigating multiple suspects in connection with the early morning violence.