Jim Leonhard offers condolences following shooting near University of Virginia

Following a tragic shooting near the University of Virginia Sunday night that killed three people, including former Wisconsin receiver Devin Chandler, Wisconsin interim coach Jim Leonhard has released a statement offering his condolences.

Chandler was a junior who transferred to Virginia after spending the 2020 and 2021 seasons at Wisconsin.

“I was shocked and saddened to hear of Devin’s passing,” Leonhard wrote, posting his statement on Twitter. “He had a lasting impact on his teammates, even after he left UW, which is a testament to the type off person he was. His personality was infectious and he was a joy to be around.

“Our family is hurting for him and his family. I want to personally extend my condolences to his family and the Virginia football family.”

In addition to Chandler, receiver Lavel Davis and linebacker D’Sean Perry were among the victims killed in the shooting near the University of Virginia. Two others were injured, including Virginia running back Mike Hollins.

University of Virginia shooting rocks local community

Students around the UVA campus were instructed to shelter in place on Sunday night into Monday morning as news of the shooting broke. That order was lifted at 10:33 a.m. ET on Monday, according to the UVA Emergency Management Twitter account. Shortly thereafter, it was announced that Chris Jones, a former Virginia walk-on running back and the suspect in the shooting, had been taken into custody.

Additional details were revealed as part of the news conference, including the charges that are being brought against Jones. After being reviewed by a judicial officer, the charges against Jones are set to include three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of using a handgun in commission of a felony.

The tragic shooting occurred on a charter bus, which was on its way back to the UVA campus after a school activity and meal.

“The bodies of Devin and D’Sean, as President (Jim) Ryan indicated, were found inside a charter bus, where they had been for the day, enjoying a school activity, having a meal together, and then coming back to our Grounds and someone amongst them chose to do an act of violence,” UVA Police Chief Tim Longo said.

“We found them dead inside that bus.”

Classes were canceled at UVA on Monday, as was the men’s basketball game scheduled for Monday night.