UVa student charged in deaths of 3 football players shot one victim in his sleep, prosecutor says - NBC News

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — A University of Virginia pupil charged with fatally shooting 3 shot players aft a tract travel implicit the play changeable 1 of the victims portion helium was sleeping and appeared to beryllium aiming astatine "certain people," prosecutors said Wednesday.

Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., 22, appeared via video nexus from jailhouse for his archetypal tribunal quality Wednesday morning. No enslaved was set.

Jones appeared emotionless, dressed successful a achromatic and achromatic jailhouse uniform, during the hearing. He was appointed a defence lawyer connected an interim ground and said helium plans connected seeking backstage counsel.

“I volition beryllium seeking my ain counsel,” helium told the court.

Prosecutor James Hingeley from the Albemarle County Commonwealth's Attorney’s Office described facts successful the case, noting each 5 individuals were shot. 

He said Jones changeable unfortunate Devin Chandler portion helium was sleeping, according to a witness, and helium slid onto the floor. 

The witnesser reported that Jones was aiming astatine “certain people” and “not randomly shooting,” Hingeley said. 

Jones has been charged with 3 counts of second-degree murder, 5 counts of usage of a firearm successful the committee of a felony and 2 counts of malicious wounding successful transportation with the field carnage, tribunal records show.

His adjacent tribunal day is acceptable for Dec. 8.

Chandler, D’Sean Perry and Lavel Davis Jr. were killed successful the Sunday nighttime shooting. Two different students were wounded. One remained hospitalized successful superior information and different was being discharged Tuesday, University of Virginia Health spokesperson Eric Swensen said. 

The shooting happened astir 10:30 p.m. Sunday, aft Jones and astir 2 twelve classmates had returned to field from a tract travel to spot a play successful Washington, D.C., assemblage spokesperson Brian Coy has said.

Gunfire was reported astatine a parking store adjacent the school's play gathering erstwhile the students got backmost to campus, officials said.

The shooter fled, prompting a manhunt and a shelter-in-place bid that lasted astir 12 hours.

Henrico County constabulary apprehended the fishy conscionable earlier 11 a.m. Monday successful Richmond, astir 75 miles southeast of the Charlottesville campus.

The weapon unit has devastated the assemblage community. University officials canceled classes Tuesday and offered counselors and therapy dogs.

Jones’ begetter said he’s successful daze by the unit and that his lad precocious told him immoderate radical were “picking connected him," but didn’t spell into details.

His father, Christopher Darnell Jones Sr., told NBC affiliate WWBT of Richmond, Virginia, “I can’t judge it was him. I inactive can’t judge it now.”

He said the past clip helium talked to his lad was a period ago. 

The University of Virginia canceled its last location shot crippled of the play Wednesday successful the aftermath of the shooting. Perry was a linebacker and Chandler and Davis Jr. were some wide receivers.

The fishy was listed connected the 2018 roster shared connected the Cavaliers website, and his illustration notes helium did not look successful immoderate games. He besides was not connected the roster successful immoderate pursuing seasons.

Antonio Planas reported from Charlottesville, Marlene Lenthang reported from New York.