Charlottesville, Virginia – The University of Virginia has agreed to a $9 million settlement with the families of victims from a tragic campus shooting in 2022. The shooting took the lives of three university football players and left two other students injured. The settlement, announced by attorney Kimberly Wald, includes payments of $2 million to each of the families of D’Sean Perry, Devin Chandler, and Lavel Davis Jr., the maximum allowed by Virginia law.
Additionally, a total of $3 million will be allocated to the two injured students, Mike Hollins and Marlee Morgan. Despite the settlement, some families are calling for the release of an independent investigation report into the shooting, completed the previous year. The investigation focused on the university’s handling of the suspect, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., a former UVA student and football team member who was charged with murder.
The families believe that the university should have taken action to prevent the tragedy, citing red flags in the suspect’s behavior leading up to the shooting. University officials had initially delayed the release of the investigation report over concerns of affecting the suspect’s trial, but are committed to providing it once the trial is not at risk.
The settlement was negotiated outside of court, approved by a judge, and endorsed by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares. University officials expressed their sorrow over the loss of the three students, emphasizing the impact they had on the community through their academic and athletic contributions.
The shooting occurred when the suspect returned to campus from a field trip, sparking panic and leading to a 12-hour campus lockdown until the suspect was apprehended. Following the incident, the university initiated an external review of campus safety measures and its response to the shooting.
The mothers of the victims have emphasized the importance of releasing the investigation report for public safety and national security reasons, as they strive to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Despite the settlement, the families continue to grapple with the emotional aftermath of the shooting, highlighting the lasting impact on their lives.