Man, 19, arrested after shooting rampage on university campus left five injured

This undated photo provided by the Chesterfield County Police shows Camron Harris, who was arrested on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in connection with a shooting at Virginia State University. (Chesterfield County Police via AP)

A suspected gunman has been arrested after a shooting spree on a university campus left five people injured.

Camron Harris, 19, was detained after reportedly being found hiding in a dorm closet 14 hours after the attack at Virginia State University.

The shooting in the early hours of Saturday morning triggered an hours-long campus wide lockdown that was lifted seven hours later.

Five wounded aged 17 to 23 were taken to hospital, including one in a critical condition, although only one victim was a student at the university.

Police investigate the scene of a shooting on the campus of Virginia State University on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026 in Petersburg, Va. (WWBT via AP)

A 20-year-old student has since been released from hospital after receiving medical care.

He faces eight felony warrants, including four counts of malicious wounding and four counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

The shooting took place just two days before the university’s autumn semester is due to start.

Virginia State University said: ‘A significant law enforcement presence remains on campus as the investigation into this morning’s shooting continues.

‘Officers responded to the 3300 block of Boisseau Street at approximately 1:20am and discovered five individuals suffering from gunshot wounds outside VSU residence halls.

16055691 Five shot outside dorms at Virginia State University days before classes begin Five people were shot and wounded, one critically, outside of residence halls at Virginia State University early Saturday, officials said. One of the shooting victims was a VSU student who was not identified by university officials in a statement released by the university Saturday afternoon. That student?s injuries were not life-threatening and the individual has been discharged from the hospital. No arrests were announced, and the university earlier reported ?multiple suspects? in the shooting that occurred at around 1:28 a.m. The shootings at the campus in Ettrick, Virginia, prompted a campuswide lockdown. The university said at around 8:20 a.m. that the lockdown had been lifted but there would be a large police presence on campus.

‘All five were transported to area hospitals. One individual is currently in critical condition.’

Local police previously said they were searching for several suspects and it is not clear if they are still looking for anyone else.

Virginia State University is a historically Black university with about 5,700 students.

In a statement on social media, Governor Abigail Spanberger said she and her husband were ‘praying for a quick recovery for those who were shot this morning at Virginia State University, and our thoughts are with the VSU community’.

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