On Sunday night at around 10:30 pm, three students, returning from an outing on a school bus at the University of Virginia, were fatally shot by a gunman in the parking garage on campus, and two other students were wounded. 

The three students that died were all members of the school’s football team. 

Police were able to immediately identify the gunman as Christopher Darnell Jones Jr, a student at the university and former football player on the school’s team, who apparently had never played in a game.

The gunman was at large after the attack, and university students were warned to shelter in place because the shooter was said to be armed and dangerous. 

Jim Ryan, President of the University of Virginia, sent an email to university students and staff in the wee hours of Monday morning, informing them that three people had been killed and two were injured and were receiving medical attention.

“This is a message any leader hopes never to have to send,” he said, “and I am devastated that this violence has visited the University of Virginia.”

The shooter, Jones, was apprehended and arrested on Monday, after an overnight manhunt by police. 

He is facing three 2nd-degree murder charges, two malicious bodily injury charges, and five charges of the use of a firearm in a felony. 

Police say that one of the victims was shot while he was sleeping on the bus and that they believe the football players were targeted, and not shot randomly. 

Jones is being held without bond. A hearing will take place on December 8. 

The victims have been identified as football team players Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and D’Sean Perry. One of the wounded is in critical condition and another is reportedly stable. 

The motive for the attack has not been announced.