Skip to main content

Before, During and Aftermath

A chronology of events surrounding the Nov. 13 shooting on Grounds

Triptych of the crime scene, chief Longo being informed of Jones capture, and the candlelit vigil
Mike Kropf, Justin Ide

2018

Tuesday, Aug. 28: Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. begins first year at UVA, where he makes the football team but never plays and soon leaves the squad.

Monday, Dec. 31: Jones tries to buy a handgun at Dance’s Sporting Goods near his Petersburg home, but at age 19 is refused as underage.

2019

Tuesday, Aug. 27: Football players D’Sean Perry and Mike Hollins begin first year.

2020

Sunday, Aug. 9: Jones is charged with felony hit-and-run in Petersburg.

Tuesday, Aug. 25: Player Lavel Davis Jr. begins first year.

2021

Sunday, Feb. 21: During a traffic stop in Chesterfield County, outside of Richmond, Jones is caught carrying a concealed 9 mm semiautomatic pistol without a permit.

Thursday, June 10: Jones pleads no contest to a misdemeanor concealed weapon charge, receives a suspended sentence and forfeits the gun.

Thursday, July 8: Jones tries to buy a rifle at Dance’s but can’t because of the felony hit-and-run charge from August 2020.

Friday, Oct. 29: Jones pleads no contest to a reduced misdemeanor charge in the hit-and-run incident and receives a suspended 12-month sentence.

2022

Saturday, Feb. 19: With the charge from the hit-and-run no longer showing up as a felony, Jones buys a Ruger rifle at Dance’s.

Friday, July 8: Jones buys a Glock 45 9 mm pistol at Dance’s.

Tuesday, Aug. 23: Player Devin Chandler transfers onto the UVA football team from the University of Wisconsin.

Thursday, Sept. 15: A report that Jones possibly possessed a gun is escalated to UVA’s Threat Assessment Team, which will turn up his concealed-weapon conviction.

Wednesday, Oct. 26: The Student Affairs office informs Jones, who hasn’t been cooperating with its investigation, that it will refer him to the student-run University Judiciary Committee for failing to disclose the concealed weapon conviction, a conduct violation.

Sunday, Nov. 13

The Atlas Performing Arts Center

  • Around 11:30 a.m.: Students board the bus for Professor Theresa Davis’ drama class trip to see The Ballad of Emmett Till in Washington, D.C.
  • Around 3 p.m.: The performance at the Atlas Performing Arts Center begins.
  • Around 5:45 p.m.: Professor Davis and the students have dinner together at Ethiopic Restaurant.
  • Around 7:45 p.m.: The bus leaves for the return trip to Charlottesville.
  • Around 10:15 p.m.: As the bus approaches the Culbreth Road drop-off point, shots ring out onboard. Chandler, Lavel Davis and Perry are killed; second-year student Marlee Morgan is injured. Hollins, who had escaped the bus once it stopped, is shot in the back after returning to try to rescue Perry. Jones, whom witnesses identify as the shooter, leaves the scene.
  • Around 10:30 p.m.: Police arrive.
  • 10:32 p.m.: UVA sends out a “shots fired” alert to the community.
  • 10:39 p.m.: UVA imposes a lockdown as authorities conduct a building-by-building search for Jones. It will stay in effect for the next 12 hours.

Monday, Nov. 14

Screenshot of a message naming Jones as the suspect

  • 1:19 a.m.: A communitywide UVA alert names Jones as the suspect.
  • 3:59 a.m.: UVA President James Ryan notifies the community that three students have been killed, two injured, in a shooting on Grounds.
  • 10:33 a.m.: Authorities end the lockdown, satisfied Jones has left Grounds.
  • Around 11:30 a.m.: Jones is captured in the Richmond area.
  • Throughout the afternoon: Across social media and on banners hanging from student houses, apartments and dorms, the motto “UVA STRONG,” accompanied by “1-15-41” (the respective jersey numbers for Davis, Chandler and Perry), takes hold.
  • Around 7:30 p.m.: Thousands of students congregate on the South Lawn for a silent candlelight vigil.

Tuesday, Nov. 15

Athletics Director Carla Williams and Coach Tony Elliott during the press conference
Ézé Amos

Along with Athletic Director Carla Williams, football head coach Tony Elliott holds an emotional press briefing.

Wednesday, Nov. 16

  • 8:55 a.m.: UVA cancels Saturday’s home football game against Coastal Carolina.
  • 9 a.m.: Via video link, Jones makes his first appearance in Albemarle County court, where he stands charged with 10 felonies, including three counts of second-degree murder. He’s denied bond.
  • 1:05 p.m.: UVA’s Board of Visitors meets in an emergency closed session, its second of three that week.

Thursday, Nov. 17

  • UVA formally asks the state attorney general to appoint special counsel to conduct an outside review. He agrees and also has the Virginia State Police take control of the local criminal investigation.
  • The UVA Alumni Association establishes the UVA Strong Fund, a University-wide effort it will administer to honor the victims and support the survivors, families and the UVA community.

Rest of 2022

Memorial service for the slain players in John Paul Jones Arena
Dan Addison

Saturday, Nov. 19: More than 9,000 attend a memorial service for the slain players in John Paul Jones Arena, broadcast live on the ACC sports network. College football pays tribute at games across the country, as will the NFL on Sunday.

Sunday, Nov. 20: A week and two surgeries after the shooting, Mike Hollins leaves UVA Hospital.

Monday, Nov. 21: UVA cancels Saturday’s Virginia Tech game, the final of the season.

Saturday, Nov. 26: The funeral for D’Sean Perry is held in Miami.

Sunday, Nov. 27: A family memorial service for Devin Chandler is held in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Wednesday, Nov. 30: A celebration of life for Lavel Davis is held in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Lighting of the Lawn tribute with the slain players' numbers 1, 15, and 41 displayed
Erin Edgerton

Thursday, Dec. 1: The annual Lighting of the Lawn pays special tribute to the victims and adopts strength in community as a theme.

Monday, Dec. 5: UVA approves the award of posthumous degrees to Chandler, Davis and Perry.

Wednesday, Dec. 7: The NCAA agrees to grant those UVA players whose eligibility had expired after the tragedy-​shortened season an additional year of college competition.

Thursday, Dec. 8: The Virginia attorney general names special counsel for the outside review: two partners from a Los Angeles litigation firm and D.C. litigator Zachary Terwilliger, a former Virginia U.S. attorney and an alumnus.

2023

Thursday, March 30: Jones, who remains in the Albemarle County jail, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing.

Sources: The Washington Post, ABC News, “The Pivot” podcast, ESPN, Richmond Times-Dispatch, The (Charlottesville) Daily Progress, The New York Times, UVA Today, UVA Emergency Management Alerts, UVA Athletics website, UVA Board of Visitors website, University Registrar website, Mosaic Theater Company, Office of the Attorney General of Virginia, Albemarle General District Court