Multiple shooters, 5 people shot at US university

The shootings, which prompted a campus lockdown, happened just before the start of the academic year at Virginia State University

A shooting involving multiple suspects and five people shot at Virginia State University prompted a campus lockdown early on Saturday.

The shooting happened near the university’s Quad Annexes, and both campus police and Chesterfield County police are actively investigating. County police said officers discovered five people suffering from gunshot wounds outside campus dormitories when they arrived.

The five victims were transported to hospitals, and one initially listed as having life-threatening injuries has been upgraded to critical condition, county police said. The other victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

The university said in a statement that the shooting involves “multiple suspects.” The statement asked people to avoid the immediate area.

“VSU Police and the Chesterfield County Police Department are actively investigating,” the university statement said. “The campus community should continue to avoid the area and follow all law enforcement instructions.”

The campus had a large law enforcement presence on Saturday morning. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office were assisting, county police said.