Brent Pry sends heartfelt message to Virginia football community after tragic shooting

Virginia Tech football coach Brent Pry, like many, is thinking of Virginia football after Sunday night’s tragic shooting. Former Cavaliers football player and current UVA student Chris Jones allegedly opened fire near the Charlottesville campus, shooting and killing three current football players and injuring two others.

The tragedy struck both the state of Virginia and the country hard, with several coaches around the country offering their condolences to the lives lost. Pry was one of those coaches, tweeting out a message to the Cavaliers community to let them know they are on his mind.

“On behalf of our entire Virginia Tech football family…we are praying, sending sympathy and support to Coach Elliott, his staff, his team, their families, and the entire @UVA community,” Pry wrote. “You have our love and support. We are with you. #HokiesForHoos“

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On behalf of our entire Virginia Tech football family…we are praying, sending sympathy and support to Coach Elliott, his staff, his team, their families, and the entire @UVA community.

You have our love and support. We are with you. #HokiesForHoos

— Brent Pry (@CoachPryVT) November 14, 2022

In-state rivals, the Hokies and Cavaliers are set to play each other in their annual meeting on Nov. 26 in Blacksburg. In light of the senseless shooting that occurred, that game will likely take on a much larger meaning to both sides as Brent Pry and Virginia Tech do their best to honor the lives lost.

More on the shooting Sunday night at Virginia

On Monday at 11:00 a.m. ET, the University of Virginia held a news conference. There, UVA Police Chief Tim Longo revealed that Chris Jones was in custody.

Three victims have been confirmed as of the time of this writing: linebacker D’Sean Perry and wide receivers Lavel Davis and Devin Chandler. UVA president Jim Ryan said that two others were wounded.

Jones is listed as part of Virginia’s 2018 football roster, though he didn’t appear in any games that season. He is no longer part of the football program, but he remained on campus as a student.

Information is still coming out about the victims of the shooting, but Jones was believed to be the culprit almost immediately. UVA president Jim Ryan released a long statement to the University of Virginia community, where Jones was mentioned as a suspect as part of the devastating message.

“Around 10:30 p.m. last night, there was a shooting on Grounds,” Ryan’s statement said. “One of our students, Christopher Darnell Jones, Jr., is suspected to have committed the shooting. The suspect remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous. …

“As of this writing, I am heartbroken to report that the shooting has resulted in three fatalities; two additional victims were injured and receiving medical care. …

“This is a message any leader hopes never to have to send, and I am devastated that this violence has visited the University of Virginia. This is a traumatic incident for everyone in our community, and we have cancelled classes for today (Monday, Nov. 14).”

On3’s Jonathan Wagner contributed to this report.