Families of UVA Players Speak as Campus Shooter Receives Life Sentence

Former University of Virginia student Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. has been sentenced to life in prison for the deadly shooting that took the lives of three UVA football players and gravely injured two other students on November 13th, 2022. Judge Cheryl Higgins delivered the sentence after a five-day hearing that featured emotional testimony from victims’ families, trauma specialists, law enforcement, police investigators, and the surviving students.

Jones received three life sentences for first-degree murder, plus 23 additional years for aggravated malicious wounding and felony firearm charges. Under Virginia law, he will remain eligible for geriatric parole, but only at an elderly age and with no guarantee of release.

A Tragedy That Shocked Campus

The shooting occurred on a charter bus returning to UVA’s campus after a class trip to Washington, D.C. Prosecutors described Jones approaching the seats where football players Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D’Sean Perry were sitting together before fatally shooting them at close range. According to witness accounts, Chandler was killed while asleep in his seat, and Judge Higgins later referred to the killing of Davis as “execution-style.”

Conflicting Portraits: Illness vs. Violence

Jones’ attorneys argued that his childhood was marked by instability, abuse, and neglect, claiming that untreated post-traumatic symptoms and delusions left him “hypervigilant and paranoid.” They said he misinterpreted social cues, believing he was being mocked or threatened.

However, prosecutors insisted that those claims were unsupported and contradicted by testimony, digital evidence, and witness statements. Investigators said Jones had no previous conflict with the players, was not targeted or bullied, and purchased ammunition in the weeks before the attack. Prosecutors described his behavior as fueled by resentment and anger, not fear.

Judge Higgins ultimately agreed with the prosecution, stating there was “no credible evidence that Mr. Jones was provoked, harassed, or threatened in any way.”

Family Testimonies: “Lives Taken, Futures Stolen”

Heartbreaking statements were read by the families of the slain athletes, describing sons who were scholars, teammates, and leaders with professional ambitions:

• Devin Chandler, remembered as joyful and “the soul of his team,” had transferred from Wisconsin and dreamed of coaching.
• Lavel Davis Jr., known for his 6’7” powerhouse athleticism, was preparing for an NFL future while completing his degree.
• D’Sean Perry, a standout linebacker and talented visual artist, was honored posthumously for both academics and athletics.

Parents described birthdays that will never be celebrated, empty seats at holidays, and careers that “were stolen before they even had a chance to start.”

Jones’ Emotional Apology

Before sentencing, Jones delivered a tearful apology, saying he did not expect forgiveness and that, “Whatever time I’m given, I deserve.” He turned to the two survivors and addressed them directly, telling Hollins that he “misjudged” him and telling Morgan he never intended to hurt her. He said incarceration has finally forced him to receive mental health treatment he avoided throughout his life.

His lawyers pleaded for a 40-year sentence, arguing he could grow and rehabilitate. Prosecutors countered that “the community can never risk another moment of his freedom.” Judge Higgins chose the maximum.

Aftermath: Loss, Healing, and a Permanent Bond

Following the sentencing, survivor Mike Hollins reflected on a tragedy that permanently united the victims’ families:

“No amount of time can bring them back. But there is peace in knowing he won’t hurt anyone else. We are a family forever now — not by choice, but by what we endured.”

The case, now closed, leaves behind a legacy of grief but also resilience within the UVA community, where memorials and scholarships have been created in honor of the three young men whose lives were cut short.

SOURCE: WHSV3