Multiple people shot at Virginia State University, days before fall semester starts

Multiple people were shot Saturday morning on the campus of Virginia State University, prompting an ongoing lockdown and a heavy law enforcement response, university officials said.

In a post to X at 5:56 a.m. ET, the university confirmed that several people had been struck by gunfire. Officials said none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening at the time of the alert.

The campus remained on lockdown Saturday morning as university police and the Chesterfield County Police Department continued investigating. Officials urged everyone on campus to avoid the affected area and to follow instructions from law enforcement. Victims were taken to a hospital, according to a separate post from the VSU police department.

The shooting comes just two days before Virginia State University is scheduled to begin its fall semester on Monday, Aug. 17, according to the university's online academic calendar. The campus, a public historically Black university located just south of Richmond, was preparing to welcome students back for the new academic year.

The incident has raised fresh concerns about campus safety at a moment when many students are returning for in-person classes. Authorities have not yet released details about a possible suspect or what led to the shooting.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.