Five Wounded in Shooting at Virginia State University as Multiple Suspects Sought

Five people were wounded in a shooting near Virginia State University early Saturday, prompting an hours-long campus lockdown as police searched for multiple suspects.

The shooting occurred near the university’s Quad Annexes, close to student residence halls. All five victims were taken to hospital, with one reported to be in critical condition, according to the university.

Virginia State University and Chesterfield County police are investigating the incident. Authorities urged students, staff and members of the public to avoid the area and follow law enforcement instructions.

The university lifted the campus-wide lockdown at 8:21 a.m. local time, although a significant police presence remained on campus as the investigation continued.

The shooting occurred just two days before the university’s fall semester was scheduled to begin.

Virginia State University, a historically Black university in Ettrick, is located about 24 miles south of Richmond, the state capital. The institution has approximately 5,700 students.

The incident adds to a broader pattern of gun violence at US colleges and universities. The Gun Violence Archive recorded dozens of shooting incidents involving higher-education institutions in 2025.

Authorities are urging anyone with information about Saturday’s shooting to contact Chesterfield County Police, which is leading the investigation.

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