University of Virginia student Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. is in custody Monday after allegedly killing three classmates and wounding two others.
The three victims — Devin Chandler of Virginia Beach, Lavel “Tyler” Davis of South Carolina and D’Sean Perry of Miami — were all football players.
Police arrested Jones after a 12-hour manhunt and have charged him with three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of using a handgun to commit a felony.
Here’s what we know about Jones and his motive for the fatal attack:
His background
Jones, 22, grew up in Virginia. His hometown is Petersburg, a small city about 20 miles south of Richmond, according to Virginia Sports.
He also spent time in Henrico, a nearby Richmond suburb, where he played on the football team for three years at Varina High School.
There he earned honorable mention all-conference his freshman year and second-team accolades the next two years, the website reported.
Jones was a star student: Varina named him Student of the Year his freshman and sophomore year, he was a member of the National Honor Society and the National Technical Honor Society, and he was president of the Key Club and president of the Jobs for Virginia Grads Program.
He spent his senior year at Petersburg High School, playing linebacker and running back, Virginia Sports said.
Christopher Jones was charged with three counts of second degree murder for the rampage. Henrico Police/Twitter
His family
Jones is the son of Margo Ellis and Christopher Jones Sr., according to Virginia Sports.
He has three siblings: Eliza, Darrius and Varian.
Records appear to show his mom is a resident of Henrico, while his father lives in Richmond.
Initial efforts by The Post to reach his family were unsuccessful Monday.
The crime scene where three people were killed and two others were wounded. Getty Images
Law enforcement personnel move through the crime scene. Getty Images
D’Sean Perry, Lavel Davis Jr. and Devin Chandler were killed in Sunday night’s shooting. University of Virginia
Jones Jr. took authorities on a 12-hour manhunt following the shooting.
His football career
Virginia Sports reports Jones was a non-playing member of UVA’s football team in 2018.
He was not currently a member of the team and hadn’t been for “over a year,” according to school officials.
Police say all three people killed in the attack were football players, but no motive has been provided for the slaying.
Jones was also involved in a hazing incident in February 2021, university officials said, but did not provide more details.
