At around 1:28 a.m. Saturday, police were alerted to gunfire outside a residence hall at Virginia State University, a historically Black college located just over 20 miles south of Richmond.
Five students sustained gunshot wounds; four were transported to local hospitals with non‑life‑threatening injuries, while the fifth is reported to be in critical condition. The university has not confirmed any arrests, and the situation remains under active investigation by the Chesterfield County Police, assisted by campus and other local law‑enforcement agencies.
The campus had temporarily been locked down during the incident; the lockout has since been lifted, but a significant police presence continues as officers secure the area and review security protocols.
Virginia State University hosts roughly 5,000 students and is one of the nation’s historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), institutions that were originally founded to provide higher education to African Americans previously barred from most schools. Classes for the new term are scheduled to start on Monday, amid heightened security measures.
