A campus regulation enforcement officer and a campus security officer at Virginia's Bridgewater Faculty have been shot and killed on Tuesday, in accordance with the college. The alleged shooter is in custody, Virginia State Police mentioned.
The college recognized the 2 victims as campus security officer J.J. Jefferson and campus police officer John Painter.
"In the present day our campus group skilled unspeakable tragedy. Two members of the Bridgewater Faculty household have been senselessly and violently taken from us," the college wrote in an electronic mail to college students and college. "The disappointment is palpable. Phrases aren't enough, not practically so, to specific the grief, disappointment, concern and — justifiably — the anger all of us really feel."
Based on the college, the 2 males have been good mates, with Painter even serving as Jefferson's greatest man at his wedding ceremony this 12 months.
President Biden tweeted Tuesday evening that, "One other mindless taking pictures has taken the lives of two courageous officers. Jill and I are praying for the households of these misplaced. Gun violence in opposition to regulation enforcement officers is sickening, and it should finish."
Police on Tuesday evening recognized the suspect as Alexander Wyatt Campbell, 27, of Ashland, Virginia. He has been charged with 4 felonies: two counts of capital homicide, one rely of first diploma homicide and one weapons cost. Police and faculty officers wouldn't touch upon any relationship the suspect could have had with the college. Police mentioned they've additionally recovered "a number of firearms related to Campbell."
Police spokesperson Corrine Geller mentioned that Campbell was reported to campus safety for suspicious exercise as a result of he was "in a location he mustn't have been." The 2 officers approached him and, after a short interplay, he shot at each officers, Geller mentioned.
Painter was armed, however Jefferson was not, in accordance with Bridgewater Faculty President David Bushman.
Campbell fled the campus on foot and tried to flee to an island in Bridgewater by wading by a river, Geller mentioned. Officers tracked him to the island, the place he was taken into custody. In an announcement Tuesday evening, police mentioned Campbell was affected by a gunshot wound when he was arrested. He was handled at a neighborhood hospital after which launched. It was not clear if he was shot by campus police or if the wound was self-inflicted, police mentioned.
Campbell was taken into custody round 1:55 p.m., roughly half-hour after the taking pictures was reported, the college mentioned.
Officers from Bridgewater Faculty Police, Bridgewater Police, the Rockingham County Sheriff's Workplace, Harrisonburg Police, the Augusta Sheriff's Workplace, Dayton Police and the FBI responded to the scene.
President Biden tweeted in regards to the taking pictures late Tuesday.
"One other mindless taking pictures has taken the lives of two courageous officers," he wrote. "Jill and I are praying for the households of these misplaced. Gun violence in opposition to regulation enforcement officers is sickening, and it should finish."