Charlottesville, Virginia – The University of Virginia has agreed to a $9 million settlement in connection to a tragic campus shooting in 2022 that resulted in the deaths of three football players and the injury of two students. The families of the victims are advocating for an independent investigation report from last year to be released immediately, focusing on the university’s handling of the situation and any recommendations made.
Attorney Kimberly Wald, representing some of the victims’ families, expressed concerns over the university’s failure to remove the alleged shooter from campus despite displaying concerning behavior. The delayed release of the investigative report was due to potential implications on the upcoming trial of the accused student.
The university has agreed to pay $2 million to each family of the deceased students, the maximum allowed under Virginia law. Additionally, the two students who were wounded in the shooting will receive a total of $3 million in compensation under the settlement terms. The agreements were reached without the need for a lawsuit and were approved by a judge in Albemarle County Circuit Court.
The tragic incident involved a UVA student and former football team member, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., who carried out the shooting upon returning to campus from a field trip. The ensuing violence led to a campus lockdown and a capture after a 12-hour search. Jones is set to face murder charges in an upcoming trial scheduled for January.
In the aftermath of the shooting, university officials called for an external review of safety protocols and threat assessments, recognizing the need for improvements in response to such events. The families of the victims are urging for transparency and accountability, emphasizing the importance of public safety and preventing similar tragedies in the future.
Happy Perry, a grieving mother who lost her son in the shooting, emphasized the need for the investigative report’s release to shed light on the circumstances leading to the tragic incident. Brenda Hollins, another parent whose son was wounded, shared the lasting impact of the shooting on the families, highlighting the ongoing emotional toll and need for support. The university officials expressed their condolences and emphasized the lasting impact of the students’ lives on the UVA community.