Charlottesville, Virginia – The families of three students killed in a tragic shooting on the University of Virginia campus have reached a $6 million settlement with the university and the state. D’Sean Perry, Lavel Davis Jr., and Devin Chandler’s families will each be receiving $2 million as part of the agreement approved by Albemarle County Circuit Court Judge Claude V. Worrell II.
During the court proceedings, attorney Elliott Buckner, speaking on behalf of the families, emphasized that the settlements do not provide closure or ease the pain of their loss. Instead, they mark the conclusion of potential civil claims against the University of Virginia and the Commonwealth.
Prior to this settlement, two students who were injured in the shooting had already received a total of $3 million in settlements. University spokesperson Brian Coy confirmed that no lawsuit was filed in relation to the incident.
University of Virginia President James E. Ryan and Rector Robert Hardie expressed their sorrow over the loss of the three students and praised their contributions to the community both in the classroom and on the football field. The students were returning from a class trip when the shooting occurred, resulting in the tragic deaths of Perry, Davis Jr., and Chandler, with two other students sustaining injuries.
The accused gunman, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., was arrested following the incident and has been charged with murder. The shooting took place despite the university being aware of Jones’ prior misconduct, including a misdemeanor concealed-weapon violation.
In response to the shooting, university officials requested an independent review, which has been completed but not yet released to the public due to ongoing criminal proceedings. Perry’s mother, Happy Perry, expressed her eagerness to see the report, emphasizing the importance of understanding what happened to her son for her healing process and closure.