Hundreds of students and community members gathered on the Lawn Wednesday night for a candlelight vigil and moment of silence in honor of the victims on the anniversary of the Nov. 13, 2022 shooting that killed three students and left two injured. The University Chapel bells rang three times to remember the loss of University students and Virginia football players Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and D’Sean Perry.
Members of the University community came to South Lawn at 7 p.m. to pay their respects to those lost two years prior by placing a candle on the steps of Old Cabell Hall. The steps were adorned with the football numbers of Chandler, Perry and Davis — 1, 15 and 45 respectively — as well as flowers brought by members of the crowd. Students donned orange ribbons, harkening back to the memorial service hosted two years prior.
This student-led “moment of silence” lasted over forty minutes as community members mourned and students reflected on the loss of their fellow Cavaliers. This candlelight vigil has become a University tradition, as students also came together to grieve in front of Old Cabell Hall last year and gathered on the South Lawn to gain a sense of community the day after the shooting in 2022.
Before and during this event, students wrote messages on “U.Va. Strong” banners, where they reflected on their emotions regarding the second anniversary of the shooting. Many of these messages were addressed to Chandler, Perry and Davis, displaying phrases such as “rest in peace and power” and “you are always in our hearts.”
The vigil was not the only form of remembrance hosted by the University community, as the University Chapel bells played the first verse of “Amazing Grace” at 1:55 p.m. to mark the anniversary of the shooting. This verse was followed by three chimes — one for each life lost.
In an email from Liv Schortmann, Fourth Year Council vice president and fourth-year College student, Class Council officers encouraged all students to take a moment for remembrance and reflection by listening to the chapel bells ring in the afternoon and attending the candlelight vigil in the evening. The email also offered mental health resources including Student Health and Wellness and the online therapy program TimelyCare, and stated that students should seek help and lean on each other if they needed emotional support.
“Although time has passed, the memories of our classmates live on; “U.Va. Strong” still remains on Beta Bridge as a reminder of Devin, D’Sean and Lavel’s lasting legacy,” Schortmann wrote. “Although we were not all on Grounds on November 13, 2022, the aftermath of that day shows us the strength of our community when we all come together.”
Prior to these events, Football Coach Tony Elliott expressed his feelings about the second anniversary of his former players’ deaths in a Notre Dame press conference Nov. 12. Elliot reflected on his own healing process and how difficult a time it is for the University community and the family of Chandler, Perry and Davis, and stated that he was proud of how the community united in the wake of tragedy.
“We can have confidence knowing that, man, we’ve endured. Man, we’ve shown what our character is all about,” Elliot said. “Back when I said we’re going to turn tragedy into triumph, we’re kind of coming out of that stage to where now we can walk with some confidence and go bring about the triumph and the beauty that was intended to come out of such a hard and difficult situation.”
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