CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The College of Virginia scholar charged with fatally capturing three soccer gamers after a subject journey over the weekend shot one of many victims whereas he was sleeping and seemed to be aiming at “sure individuals,” prosecutors stated Wednesday.
Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., 22, appeared through video hyperlink from jail for his first court docket look Wednesday morning. No bond was set.
Jones appeared impassive, wearing a black and white jail uniform, throughout the listening to. He was appointed a protection lawyer on an interim foundation and stated he plans on searching for personal counsel.
“I will likely be searching for my very own counsel,” he instructed the court docket.
Prosecutor James Hingeley from the Albemarle County Commonwealth Lawyer’s Workplace described information within the case, noting all 5 people have been shot.
He stated Jones shot sufferer Devin Chandler whereas he was sleeping, in accordance with a witness, and he slid onto the ground.
The witness reported that Jones was aiming at “sure individuals” and “not randomly capturing,” Hingeley stated.
Jones has been charged with three counts of second-degree homicide, 5 counts of use of a firearm within the fee of a felony and two counts of malicious wounding in reference to the campus carnage, court docket information present.
His subsequent court docket date is ready for Dec. 8.
Chandler, D’Sean Perry and Lavel Davis Jr. have been killed within the Sunday night time capturing. Two different college students have been wounded. One remained hospitalized in severe situation and one other was being discharged Tuesday, College of Virginia Well being spokesperson Eric Swensen stated.
The capturing occurred round 10:30 p.m. Sunday, after Jones and about two dozen classmates had returned to campus from a subject journey to see a play in Washington, D.C., college spokesperson Brian Coy has stated.
Gunfire was reported at a parking storage close to the college’s drama constructing when the scholars acquired again to campus, officers stated.
The shooter fled, prompting a manhunt and a shelter-in-place order that lasted about 12 hours.
Henrico County police apprehended the suspect simply earlier than 11 a.m. Monday in Richmond, about 75 miles southeast of the Charlottesville campus.
Extra protection of the lethal College of Virginia capturing
The gun violence has devastated the college neighborhood. College officers canceled courses Tuesday and provided counselors and remedy canines.
Jones’ father stated he’s in shock by the violence and that his son lately instructed him some individuals have been “choosing on him,” however didn’t go into particulars.
His father, Christopher Darnell Jones Sr., instructed NBC affiliate WWBT of Richmond, Virginia, “I can’t consider it was him. I nonetheless can’t consider it now.”
He stated the final time he talked to his son was a month in the past.
The College of Virginia canceled its remaining house soccer recreation of the season Wednesday within the wake of the capturing. Perry was a linebacker and Chandler and Davis Jr. have been each huge receivers.
The suspect was listed on the 2018 roster shared on the Cavaliers web site, and his profile notes he didn’t seem in any video games. He additionally was not on the roster in any following seasons.
Antonio Planas reported from Charlottesville, Marlene Lenthang reported from New York.
David Okay. Li, The Related Press and Liz Brown-Kaiser contributed.
