CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A University of Virginia student accused of fatally shooting three football players after a field trip over the weekend shot one of the victims as he slept and appeared to be aiming “at some people,” prosecutors said Wednesday.
Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., 22, appeared via video link from jail for his first court appearance on Wednesday morning. No bond has been set.
Jones appeared emotionless, dressed in a black and white prison uniform, during the hearing. He was named acting defense attorney and said he planned to hire a private attorney.
“I will seek my own lawyer,” he told the court.
District Attorney James Hingeley of the Albemarle County District Attorney’s Office described the facts of the case, noting that five people were shot.
He said Jones shot victim Devin Chandler as he slept, according to a witness, and he slid to the floor.
The witness reported that Jones was aiming at “certain people” and “not shooting randomly,” Hingeley said.
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 in connection with the campus carnage, records show. judicial.
Hingeley also spoke in court about Jones’ criminal history. Jones was arrested Feb. 22, 2021, in Chesterfield County, Va., for a concealed weapons violation, the prosecutor said. Jones was convicted of the charge on June 10, 2021 and given a 12-month suspended sentence, Hingeley said.
At the time of his arrest in Chesterfield County, Jones had outstanding warrants for hit-and-run and reckless driving out of Petersburg, Va., Hingeley said. Jones received a 12-month suspended sentence for each of the charges on Oct. 18, 2021, Hingeley said.
University officials admitted on Tuesday that they learned of Jones’ conviction on the weapons charge around mid-September and have not initiated disciplinary proceedings against him.
Jones’ next court date is set for December 8.
Chandler, D’Sean Perry and Lavel Davis Jr. were killed in Sunday night’s shooting. Two other students were injured. One remained hospitalized in serious condition and another was released on Tuesday, University of Virginia Health spokesman Eric Swensen said.
The shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. Sunday, after Jones and about two dozen classmates returned to campus from a field trip to see a play in Washington, D.C., the spokesperson said. college, Brian Coy.
Gunshots were reported in a parking lot near the school’s theater building when students returned to campus, officials said.
The shooter fled, prompting a manhunt and a shelter-in-place order that lasted approximately 12 hours.
Henrico County police apprehended the suspect just before 11 a.m. Monday in Richmond, about 75 miles southeast of the Charlottesville campus.
More coverage of the fatal University of Virginia shooting
Gun violence has devastated the university community. University officials canceled classes on Tuesday and offered counselors and therapy dogs.
Jones’ father said he was reeling from the violence and that his son had recently told him that some people were “going after him”, but did not go into details.
His father, Christopher Darnell Jones Sr., told NBC affiliate WWBT of Richmond, Va., “I can’t believe it was him. I still can’t believe it now.
He said the last time he spoke to his son was a month ago.
The University of Virginia called off its final home football game of the season on Wednesday following the shooting. Perry was linebacker, and Chandler and Davis Jr. were both wide receivers.
The suspect was on the 2018 roster shared on the Cavaliers’ website, and his profile says he hasn’t appeared in any games. He was also not on the roster in subsequent seasons.
Antonio Planas reported from Charlottesville, Marlene Lenthang reported from New York.
David K. Li, The Associated Press and Liz Brown Kaiser contributed.
