Charlottesville, Virginia – The University of Virginia has agreed to a $9 million settlement in relation to a tragic campus shooting in 2022 that resulted in the deaths of three football players and injuries to two students. Kimberly Wald, an attorney representing some of the victims and their families, announced this settlement on Friday.
As part of the agreement, the university will pay $2 million to each of the families of the three deceased students, identified as D’Sean Perry, Devin Chandler, and Lavel Davis Jr. Additionally, a total of $3 will be allocated for the two students who were wounded in the shooting, namely Mike Hollins and Marlee Morgan.
The shooting was carried out by a UVA student and former football team member, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., following a field trip to see a play in Washington. The tragic event unfolded near a parking garage, sparking chaos and prompting a 12-hour lockdown of the campus until the perpetrator was apprehended.
University officials initiated an external review of UVA’s safety protocols, response to the violence, and assessment of potential threats posed by Jones, who had been on the university’s threat-assessment team’s radar prior to the incident. Subsequently, murder charges against Jones were elevated to aggravated murder in 2023, and his trial is slated for January.
This settlement underscores the devastating impact of the campus shooting and highlights the university’s commitment to addressing the aftermath and ensuring justice for the victims and their families. The agreement reflects a step towards healing and accountability in the wake of this tragic event that shook the UVA community.