On the two-year anniversary of a tragic shooting that resulted in the deaths of three Virginia football players — Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and D’Sean Perry — and serious injuries for former Cavalier running back Mike Hollins and fourth-year Commerce student Marlee Morgan, the University continues to grapple with the memory of gun violence on Grounds. Enshrined on Beta Bridge remains the names and jersey numbers of Davis Jr., Chandler and Perry, acting as a physical reminder of the community-wide commitment to honoring their legacy.
Over the past year, several developments in the aftermath of the shooting, from an independent review of the University’s response to a settlement for the victims’ families, have transpired. As the community continues to heal and reflect, this article summarizes major developments which have occurred since the one-year anniversary of Nov. 13, 2022.
Nov. 13, 2023 — a day of remembrance
On the one-year anniversary of the shooting, the University community provided several support resources and opportunities for reflection and grieving. Throughout the day, events included a moment of silence and tolling of the University Chapel bells, a panel discussion including Happy Perry — mother of D’Sean Perry — about healing from gun violence, an opportunity for students to leave messages on a U.Va. Strong banner on South Lawn and an evening vigil in front of Old Cabell Hall.
The University also provided students with a list of emotional and psychological support resources from Counseling and Psychological Services and Student Health and Wellness.
Nov. 17, 2023 — the release of an external review delayed
The University announced in a press release that it will be delaying the release of an external review regarding the circumstances leading up to the shooting and the University’s response. University President Jim Ryan and Whitt Clement, former rector for the Board of Visitors, requested that Attorney General Jason Miyares appoint a special counsel to conduct the review in the days following the shooting.
While the Board of Visitors received a preliminary report of the review in Oct. 2023, the University cited a need to keep its findings private so as not to disrupt the criminal proceedings of the alleged shooter, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. Jones had been charged with thirteen counts in relation to the shooting and had not yet appeared in court to set a trial date.
Feb. 5, 2024 — a trial date set
Jones received a trial date for thirteen charges related to the Nov. 13 shooting, with proceedings set to run over the course of three weeks from Jan. 22 through Feb. 15 of 2025. Jones faces five counts of unlawful firearm use, six counts of aggravated murder and two counts of malicious bodily injury. He was denied bail and is being held at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail awaiting trial.
Feb. 16, 2024 — Hollins honored for his resilience
Former Cavalier running back Mike Hollins, one of the students injured in the Nov. 13 shooting, received the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, honoring his leadership both on the field and in the Charlottesville community. This was one of many awards Hollins received for his leadership and courage, also being named the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year by the Associated Press and receiving the Capital One Orange Bowl-Football Writers Association of America Courage Award.
During the shooting, Hollins sustained serious gunshot-related injuries, leaving him hospitalized and in serious condition for several days. However, Hollins returned to practice just four months after the incident and in the 2023 season, was voted to be a captain and logged several touchdowns for his team.
Feb. 23, 2024 — students propose preserving memorial
Student Council passed a resolution to memorialize the “U.Va. Strong” memorial painted on Beta Bridge dedicated to Davis Jr., Chandler and Perry in the day following the shooting. According to third-year College Rep. Jason Almas, the project would cost an estimated $40,000 and involve laser-cutting the paint from the bridge, then relocating it to a space where community members can access it, although no timeline for the project was finalized.
Apr. 27, 2024 — memorial erased and students respond
In response to a group referring to itself as the 17 Society painting over the memorial on Beta Bridge dedicated to Davis Jr., Chandler and Perry, members of the Virginia football team and the University community rallied to repaint the memorial. In a letter taped to the side of the bridge, the 17 Society said that covering over the memorial was necessary to allow others to continue to use Beta Bridge to spread their messages.
The Virginia football team encouraged students to resign the bridge in a post to its Instagram account, drawing a substantial crowd of students showing their support. Prior to its repainting, the memorial to the players was the longest-standing message to stay on the bridge, lasting for 528 days.
May 4, 2024 — University sued for withholding external review
Local Charlottesville newspaper The Daily Progress sued the University over its withholding of the external review of the events preceding the Nov. 13 shooting and the school’s response. After originally trying to access the findings from the review via two Freedom of Information Act requests, a reporter from The Daily Progress, as well as the paper’s parent company, filed a petition to compel the University to release the report. A judge overruled the University’s attempt to dismiss the petition, setting a June 21 trial date in Albemarle County Circuit Court.
May 31, 2024 — victims and families receive settlement from the University
The University agreed to a $9 million settlement for the victims and families of the Nov. 13 shooting, paying $2 million each to the families of Davis, Jr., Perry and Chandler and a combined $3 million to Hollins and Morgan. The settlement was negotiated outside of court and did not originate from a lawsuit, according to the Associated Press, but was approved by a judge, as required in Virginia state law.
Aug. 14, 2024 — University permitted to withhold external review results
A judge denied The Daily Progress’s petition for the University to release the report of the findings from the independent review after Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Hingeley intervened, arguing that details in the report will be used in the criminal prosecution against Jones. Shortly after, the newspaper filed an appeal with the Virginia Court of Appeals.
For a complete list of The Cavalier Daily’s coverage of the shooting from Nov. 13, 2022 to Nov. 13, 2023, you can consult last year’s archivist report.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article stated that Marlee Morgan is a Class of 2024 alumna. She is a fourth-year Commerce student and this article has been updated to reflect this change.
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