The Patriots organization helped Virginia players attend teammates’ funerals after three members of the college football team were killed in a shootout earlier in November. The funerals were held in three different states, so Patriots owner Robert Kraft sent the team’s plane to Virginia for free to help with the trip.
Wide receivers Lavel Davis Jr. and Devin Chandler and linebacker D’Sean Perry were shot by former Virginia football player Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. on Nov. 13 following a school field trip.
After the incident, the Cavaliers decided to forfeit their final two football games of the 2022 season.
Jones was charged with three counts of second-degree murder, five counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, and two counts of malicious wounding. He is being held without bail at the Albemarle County Regional Jail in Charlottesville and is due back in court on December 8.
Perry’s funeral was held Saturday in Miami and Chandler’s the next day in Virginia Beach. Davis’ is scheduled for Wednesday in North Charleston, SC
A large memorial service for the victims was held on campus a week ago.
Running back Mike Hollins was shot and required multiple surgeries, but was released from hospital last week. A fifth student who is not on the football team, Marlee Morgan, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was also discharged from hospital.
The Patriots’ next game is Thursday, Dec. 1 at home as they host the Buffalo Bills, which means they won’t need the plane this week. They’re not the only team helping honor Virginia’s victims. The Washington Commanders wore helmet decals with the numbers of deceased players.
The College teams have also been strengthened. James Madison and Old Dominion too wore special decals. Liberty and Virginia Tech honored the team in wearing navy blue and orange uniforms – the colors of the Cavaliers – during their game on November 19. The ACC called for a minute’s silence at all conference home games, and the league office produced on-field signage with a “UVA Strong” graphic.