The University of Virginia has reached a $9 million settlement with the families of the victims of a 2022 campus shooting that claimed the lives of three university football players and injured two other students. Each of the families of D’Sean Perry, Devin Chandler, and Lavel Davis Jr. will receive $2 million, the maximum allowed under Virginia law. An additional $3 million will be paid to the two wounded students, Mike Hollins and Marlee Morgan. However, some families are demanding the immediate release of an independent investigation into the shooting to understand what led to the tragedy.
The alleged shooter, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., was a UVA student and former football team member who was charged with murder. Attorney Kimberly Wald, representing Perry’s estate, believes the university should have intervened and removed the suspect from campus due to his erratic and unstable behavior that exhibited red flags. The families involved stress the need to learn from the investigation’s findings to prevent future tragedies and protect lives.
The independent investigation into the shooting was completed last year but was delayed by university officials due to concerns about impacting the suspect’s trial. The settlement was negotiated outside of court and required approval by a judge in Albemarle County Circuit Court. University officials and state officials, including Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares, also approved the agreements. UVA expressed gratitude for the impact that the deceased students had on the community, both in and out of the classroom and on the football field.
The shooting occurred when the suspect returned to campus from a field trip, sparking panic and a 12-hour lockdown. The incident began near a parking garage and led to the suspect’s apprehension. Jones Jr. is set to stand trial for murder and other charges in January. Following the shooting, university officials initiated an external review to assess campus safety policies and response procedures, as well as the previous evaluations of the suspect’s potential threat. The report was initially expected to be released in November but was delayed due to trial concerns.
The families of the victims of the UVA shooting express mixed emotions following the settlement. Some family members stress the importance of understanding the circumstances leading to the tragedy to prevent similar incidents in the future. Perry’s mother and Hollins’ mother call for the immediate release of the investigation’s findings for the sake of public safety and national security. Despite the settlement, the families of the victims continue to grapple with the devastation and changes caused by the shooting, emphasizing the importance of addressing their emotions to avoid being consumed by grief.
