A shooting at Virginia State University in Ettrick, Virginia, left five people injured, one in critical condition, according to campus and law enforcement officials, and the incident occurred near the Quad Annexes and prompted a campuswide lockdown, which was later lifted.

Incident Details and Timeline

The shootings happened in the area of the Quad Annexes and Boisseau Street, Virginia State University police said. The campus was placed on lockdown following the incident, according to a post by the VSU Office of Communications and University just before 5 a.m. local time. The lockdown was lifted around 8:20 a.m., though a large police presence remained on campus.

All five victims were transported to local hospitals, though One individual is in critical condition, while the other four sustained non-life-threatening injuries, the university reported; the shooting occurred just before the start of the academic year. Classes are set to begin on Monday, and residence halls opened a week ago — many students had recently completed the university’s “New Trojans Experience” for incoming students.

Investigation and Law Enforcement Response

Chesterfield County Police are leading the investigation, with assistance from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, and Virginia State University Police. The Virginia State Police deferred questions to local authorities, who they said are in charge of the probe; Authorities asked anyone with information to contact Chesterfield County Police, Crime Solvers, or VSU police directly.

The circumstances that led to the shooting were not immediately clear; a significant law enforcement presence remained on campus as the investigation continued, and the university has about 5,700 students and is a historically Black institution, being the first fully state-supported four-year college for Black Americans.

University and Community Response

Virginia State University, located about 24 miles south of Richmond, serves a predominantly undergraduate student population, though Governor Abigail Spanberger said she was praying for the victims of the shooting. The university emphasized that normal access to campus could resume after the lockdown was lifted, but the presence of law enforcement continued to be notable.

The incident comes at a time of heightened concern over campus safety, particularly near the start of the academic year. The university did not provide immediate details on the identities of the victims or any suspects involved, but noted that more information would be shared as it became available.