ETTRICK, Va. – A 19-year-old non-student was arrested Saturday afternoon after police found him hiding in a dormitory closet on the Virginia State University campus, more than 14 hours after a shooting that left five people wounded, including one in critical condition.
Chesterfield County Police identified the suspect as Camron Harris of Henrico, Virginia. Authorities said Harris is not a student at the university. He was located around 4 p.m. inside Seward Hall, a residence hall within walking distance of the shooting scene, and taken into custody without incident.
Police said they obtained eight felony warrants against Harris: four counts of malicious wounding and four counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He is being held without bond at the Chesterfield County Jail, and additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues.
The shooting occurred around 1:28–1:30 a.m. Saturday in the 3300 block of Boisseau Street near the Quad Annexes outside VSU residence halls. Officers responding to reports of gunfire found five people suffering from gunshot wounds.
The victims ranged in age from 17 to 23. Four of the five were not VSU students. A 21-year-old man who is not a student remains in critical condition. A 20-year-old VSU student suffered non-life-threatening injuries and has been released from the hospital. The other three victims—a 23-year-old man, a 19-year-old woman, and a 17-year-old boy—also sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
University officials placed the campus on lockdown following the incident as students prepared for the new academic year, with residence halls already open and classes set to begin Monday. Officials later said there was no longer an immediate threat to the campus community and lifted the lockdown.
Authorities have not released a motive for the shooting. Early statements from the university referenced multiple suspects, and police continue to investigate with assistance from VSU Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and other agencies. No further details on additional suspects or recovery of the weapon have been released.
The dramatic discovery of Harris still on campus hours after the shooting has drawn attention to campus security procedures during the transition period before classes start.
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