Charlottesville, Virginia – The University of Virginia has agreed to a settlement of $9 million with the families of the victims of a tragic campus shooting in 2022. The incident resulted in the deaths of three university football players and the injury of two other students. The settlement was announced by attorney Kimberly Wald, who represents some of the victims and their families.
As part of the settlement, the families of D’Sean Perry, Devin Chandler, and Lavel Davis Jr. will each receive $2 million, the maximum allowed under Virginia law. Additionally, a total of $3 million will be paid to the two students who were wounded in the shooting – Mike Hollins, a fourth football team member, and Marlee Morgan.
While the settlement has been reached, some families are still seeking the release of an independent investigation into the shooting, completed last year. The investigation focused on the university’s assessment of the threat posed by the suspect, a former student who was charged with murder. It also included recommendations based on the findings.
The alleged shooter, identified as Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., was a UVA student and former football team member. Wald, representing Perry’s estate, criticized the university for not taking action to remove the suspect from campus despite displaying troubling behavior.
University officials initially delayed the release of the investigation report out of concern for impacting the suspect’s trial. However, the settlement was negotiated outside of court and approved by a judge in Albermarle County Circuit Court, with the endorsement of Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares.
The University of Virginia expressed remorse for the loss of the three students and acknowledged their impact on the community. The shooting occurred when the suspect returned to campus from a field trip, resulting in a 12-hour lockdown. Jones Jr. is scheduled for a trial in January to face charges of murder and other offenses.
In the aftermath of the shooting, university officials initiated an external review to assess campus safety policies and responses, acknowledging that the suspect had previously been a subject of concern for the university’s threat assessment team. Families of the victims are calling for transparency, emphasizing the importance of releasing the investigation report for the sake of public safety and national security.