Five individuals were injured early Saturday morning in a shooting at Virginia State University, an incident that authorities say stemmed from an earlier argument and was documented by the suspect himself through social media messages.
Chesterfield County police have identified the suspect as Camron Harris, 19, who is not a student at the historically Black university located in Ettrick, near Petersburg. Harris now faces multiple counts of malicious wounding and use of a firearm in connection with the shooting.
The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. Saturday in the area of the Quad Annexes on campus. Among the victims, a 21-year-old man sustained critical injuries. Four others, including a 17-year-old boy, a 23-year-old man, a 19-year-old woman, and a 20-year-old VSU student, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
According to court documents, police discovered Harris Saturday afternoon hiding in the closet of a women’s dormitory room. Officers responding to initial reports of gunfire located a firearm, several cartridge casings, and observed damage to vehicles and structures on campus.
The investigation progressed rapidly through witness statements and digital evidence. Court documents reveal that witnesses informed police they had heard Harris was involved in the shooting and that he had engaged in a verbal dispute earlier that day. One witness reported that their friend overheard Harris threaten to return to the school and shoot.
A second witness came forward with similar information, telling police they heard a man named Camron was planning to shoot because of an earlier argument.
Investigators uncovered substantial digital evidence linking Harris to the crime. According to court documents, Harris posted an Instagram Story featuring the VSU campus shortly before the shooting occurred. Police also obtained Instagram messages in which Harris allegedly discussed finding a gun and shooting at the school.
In one particularly damning exchange detailed in the court documents, another person asked Harris whether he heard the gunfire. “It was us,” Harris allegedly responded.
In messages with another individual who asked Harris whether he wanted to go for a walk, Harris wrote, “I’m tryna find the gun.” The other person responded with cat-laughing emojis and the word “wait.” Harris replied, “Oh yes,” and the other person allegedly wrote back, “Lemme help you.” Court documents indicate that Harris sent a photo of a gun during these exchanges.
It remains unclear whether Harris has retained legal counsel. The case raises serious questions about campus security and the role of social media in both facilitating and documenting violent incidents on college campuses.
Virginia State University, founded in 1882, serves as an important institution in the state’s higher education landscape. The shooting marks another troubling incident of gun violence affecting American college campuses, where students and visitors should reasonably expect a safe environment for learning and community gathering.
The investigation continues as authorities work to determine whether additional charges may be warranted and whether other individuals may face charges in connection with the shooting.
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