Five people were shot early Saturday morning at Virginia State University in Ettrick, Virginia, according to university police. The shooting happened around 1:28 a.m. in the Quad Annexes near Boisseau Street and Third Avenue, a residential area of campus. Officers found five victims with gunshot wounds. One is in critical condition at a local hospital, while the other four are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The university issued an immediate lockdown, which remained in effect for nearly seven hours before being lifted around 8:20 a.m. Police are still processing the scene and searching for multiple suspects. No descriptions have been released at this time. The investigation is being handled by VSU Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office. University officials are asking students and the surrounding community to avoid the area while the investigation continues.
This incident comes as students across the country prepare to return for the fall semester. It raises serious questions about campus safety protocols and what universities can do to protect their communities. For parents, it’s a stark reminder that these conversations need to happen before move-in day, not after. How do you talk to your college student about campus safety? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
