Nearly three years after Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., former University student and football player, shot and killed three University football players Nov. 13, 2022, Jones was given the maximum penalty Friday of five life sentences with an additional 23 years.
Jones shot and killed then fourth-year College student D’Sean Perry, then third-year College student Lavel Davis Jr. and then second-year College student Devin Chandler. He additionally wounded two other students — then third-year College student Mike Hollins and then second-year College student Marlee Morgan — on a charter bus returning from a class field trip Nov. 13, 2022.
Following the deadly shooting, the University went into an overnight campus-wide lockdown for about 12 hours, and classes were cancelled Monday and Tuesday following the Sunday tragedy. The last two football games of the season were also cancelled, and a memorial for the three players was held in place of the first game.
The sentencing comes less than two weeks after the third anniversary of the shooting. To commemorate the date, the University held a vigil, and the University Chapel bell tolled at 1:55 p.m. three times for the three lives lost.
Jones was charged Nov. 16 and convicted with three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated malicious wounding and charges for gun usage in the crime. He had pleaded guilty to these charges last November. His sentence came after five days of testimony, including those from family and friends of victims.
The five days leading up to the sentencing included testimonies of the professor leading the field trip, Hollins, other students on the charter bus and those with ties to the perpetrator and the victims. Students and faculty provided emotional testimonies of the horrific events and claimed that Jones had no basis to feel targeted by the players he shot. Hollins said that he still suffers from mental trauma and survivor’s guilt, especially around the anniversary of the incident. Many witnesses also showed regret for not doing more to support Jones when he showed signs of instability.
Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Higgins presided over the session and issued the sentencing. Ultimately, she said that Jones’ choice to open fire in a bus while students were either defenseless or sleeping led to her choice to go above the minimum sentencing. At a minimum, Jones would have faced 23 years on firearm counts, and the prosecutors sought life sentences for the murder counts.
Higgins said that none of the students were posing a threat to Jones — in fact, Hollins was running away from him when Jones shot Hollins in the back. According to Higgins, Jones’ shooting of Davis was “execution-style,” and the other two victims “couldn’t have been more vulnerable.”
The defense centered their argument on Jones’ mental instability. According to the defense, Jones was experiencing severe mental illness and paranoia, and alongside a traumatic childhood, he should be considered for a lighter sentence.
“He has the ability to grow and atone for the harm he has caused,” his defense lawyers said.
The prosecution, led by Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Hingley, argued that Jones’ illegal behavior — previous charges for concealed weapons, hit and run incidents and reckless driving — leading up to the shooting proved that his actions were a “criminal episode” rather than a “freak, psychotic episode” that the defense wished to paint.
During the sentencing, Jones spoke for 15 minutes, apologizing to those involved in the shooting and friends and family of the victims in attendance. Jones apologized to the courtroom for his actions and admitted to inflicting pain on others.
“I'm so sorry — I caused so much pain,” Jones said. “I didn’t know your sons. I didn’t know your boys. And I wish I did.”
Jones will be able to apply for parole at age 60.
University Interim President Paul Mahoney said that the sentencing is another step towards University-wide healing, but that the legacies of Chandler, Davis Jr. and Perry will continue to remain prevalent and honored.
“Today’s sentencing … is another step in the long and difficult recovery from the terrible crimes he committed,” Mahoney said. “The U.Va. community remains united in mourning the loss and celebrating the lives of [Chandler, Davis and Perry] and in standing with those who were most closely affected by this tragedy.”
University students gathered to memorialize the three passed students’ lives Nov. 13, the three-year anniversary of the shooting. A memorial concert was held Nov. 12, and the vigil and the University Chapel bell toll occurred the following day.
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