Virginia State University shooting leaves five injured; suspect arrested

Authorities have arrested a 19-year-old man in connection with a shooting that injured five people at Virginia State University on Saturday. While no fatalities were reported, one victim sustained critical injuries. The suspect, identified as Camron Harris from Henrico, Virginia, was apprehended by police on Saturday evening, reportedly found hiding in a closet on the university campus.

Police confirmed that Harris is not a student at Virginia State University. Law enforcement has secured eight felony warrants for his arrest, including charges for malicious wounding and using a firearm in the commission of a felony. The shooting occurred outside the university's residence halls, and among the five injured individuals, only one, a 20-year-old, was a student. The other victims range in age from 17 to 23, with a 21-year-old male suffering critical injuries.

The incident prompted a campus lockdown and a significant police investigation just days before the start of the new academic year. The shooting took place near the university's Quad Annexes. Police discovered the five victims with gunshot wounds outside the dormitories. While the investigation was ongoing, the university issued a statement acknowledging the concern caused by the incident and emphasizing that the safety and well-being of students remain their top priority.

University officials stated that the shooting involved "multiple suspects," but law enforcement does not believe there is an ongoing threat to the campus community, leading to the lifting of the lockdown. The campus saw a heavy police presence throughout Saturday. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Hanover County police were assisting in the investigation. Virginia State University, a historically black university, is located in Ettrick, Virginia.