Suspect in UVA Football Player Murders Pleads Guilty, Faces Sentencing Next Year
ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. — Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. pleaded guilty on Wednesday to the 2022 murders of three University of Virginia football players: Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D’Sean Perry. The tragic shooting occurred on a bus returning from a class field trip, where Jones opened fire, resulting in the deaths of the three students and injuries to two others, Mike Hollins and Marlee Morgan.
In a dramatic court appearance, Jones admitted to three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated malicious wounding, and five counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. The victims’ families expressed their ongoing grief and the profound impact of their loss in a poignant statement. “Today, we sat eye to eye with the defendant… it is now in God’s hands,” stated Perry’s family, emphasizing their resolve for justice. They are urging the public to attend the sentencing hearing in February 2025 to reinforce the message of the defendant’s actions on November 13, 2022.
Jones is set to receive a maximum sentence of five life terms plus an additional 23 years. Attorney Michael Haggard, representing the victims’ families, voiced their hopes for the strictest penalties, noting the bittersweet nature of concluding the criminal case.
UVA President Jim Ryan remarked on the painful journey the community has endured following the loss of these beloved students, affirming that the school would release an external review of the incident once legal proceedings are finalized. Earlier this year, the University of Virginia reached a $9 million settlement with the victims’ families, highlighting the ongoing impact of this tragedy.
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