ETTRICK, VIRGINIA — Chesterfield County Police found five people suffering from gunshot wounds upon arrival at the scene. All five victims were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment, with one victim in critical condition and four sustaining injuries that were not life-threatening.

A temporary campus lockdown was implemented early Saturday morning following the shooting. The lockdown was lifted by approximately 9 a.m. on Saturday, allowing normal operations to resume while the investigation continued.

Lt. James R. Lamb of the Chesterfield County Police Department Criminal Investigations Major Crimes Unit stated the incident was not a drive-by shooting. Officials confirmed one victim was a student, while investigators believe the other victims may be from surrounding communities. The incident involved multiple shooters.

No arrests had been made as of Saturday morning. Virginia State University issued guidance to its community regarding safety measures during the ongoing investigation.

Virginia State University is a historically Black university located in Ettrick, Virginia. The institution has approximately 5,700 students and was the first fully state-supported four-year college for Black Americans.

Timeline

Earlier coverage on 2026-08-07 reported: Student shoots multiple people at a high school in Thailand, authorities say. The shooting occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2026. The shooting took place outside university residence halls near the Quad Annexes in the area of Boisseau Street and Third Avenue.

Five people were injured in a shooting at Virginia State University. Lt. James R. Lamb stated the incident was not a drive-by shooting. Virginia State University Police are assisting in the investigation. A large law enforcement presence remains on campus as the investigation into this morning’s shooting continues. "The campus community should continue to avoid the area and follow all law enforcement instructions."

What's New

Virginia SB 88 (Law-enforcement and jail officers; various changes to provisions related to decertification.) Was sponsored by Mamie E. Locke. Latest action: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0494). Earlier coverage on 2026-08-07 reported: Student shoots multiple people at a high school in Thailand, authorities say. Black Americans is Americans with sub-Saharan African ancestry.

Why It Matters

The shooting at Virginia State University resulted in five injuries and prompted a temporary campus lockdown, affecting approximately 5,700 students at the historically Black university. The incident involved multiple shooters and required coordination among multiple law enforcement agencies, including Chesterfield County Police, Virginia State University Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Hanover County Sheriff's Office.

One victim remains in critical condition while four others sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The university advised the campus community to avoid the area and follow law enforcement instructions as the investigation continues. No arrests had been made as of Saturday morning, and officials confirmed only one victim was a student, with investigators believing the others may be from surrounding communities.