Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. gets maximum penalty for 2022 bus attack
Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., a former University of Virginia student, has been sentenced to five consecutive life sentences plus 23 years for fatally shooting three football players and wounding two other students in a 2022 attack.
Key Details
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The victims killed were Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D’Sean Perry, all student-athletes at UVA.
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Two other students, running back Mike Hollins and a track athlete Marlee Morgan, were injured in the incident.
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The shooting occurred on November 13, 2022, aboard a charter bus returning to campus after a class trip to Washington, D.C.
Legal Outcome
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Jones pleaded guilty last year to three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated malicious wounding, and several firearm charges.
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Judge Cheryl Higgins handed down the maximum sentence after a five-day hearing, emphasizing the severity and premeditated nature of the crimes.
Remarks & Reaction
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In court, Jones apologized to the families, saying, “I’m sorry. I caused so much pain.”
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A survivor, Michael Hollins, expressed some relief at the sentence, stating it brought “a little bit of peace knowing that the man … won’t be hurting anyone else.”
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The University of Virginia previously settled with the families for $9 million, acknowledging safety concerns and red-flag behavior from Jones before the shooting.
Final Thought
The sentencing marks a tragic chapter for UVA’s football program and the campus community. While the punishment is severe, the emotional toll remains profound — as families, survivors and the university grapple with how to move forward after a devastating loss.
