UVA Capturing Suspect Failed Gun Background Examine Final Yr
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Christopher Darnell Jones, Jr., the suspect within the tragic taking pictures of three College of Virginia soccer gamers, reportedly was in a position to buy two weapons regardless of a background verify failure final 12 months.
Based on reports, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. had failed a background verify whereas making an attempt to buy a firearm from Dance’s Sporting Items in Colonial Heights, Virginia in July 2021. The previous walk-on soccer participant meant to purchase a Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 rifle however failed a background verify after being flagged as a consequence of a pending legal cost. The cost stemmed from a hit-and-run Jones was concerned in on Aug. 9, 2020 in Petersburg.
Jones had additionally tried to purchase a handgun whereas below the authorized age of 21 there in 2018, in response to an announcement from the shop’s proprietor, Marlon Dance on Thursday (Nov. 17). “Jones DID NOT obtain both of the firearms he tried to buy and each tried purchases have been forwarded to the Virginia State Police for additional motion. We are going to proceed to help legislation enforcement as they try to make sense of this horrible tragedy and we pray for the victims of this tragedy,” the assertion continued.
However the retailer proprietor did verify that the 22-year-old did get hold of a Ruger AR-556 rifle in February and a Glock 45 9 mm handgun with an extra journal in July, saying there was “nothing noteworthy” about these gross sales. As for the criminal charge Jones confronted in 2021, Virginia State Police spokesperson Corinne Geller mentioned:
“The pending cost was diminished to a misdemeanor by the court docket in October 2021, thereby eradicating the prohibition in opposition to future purchases.” The state of affairs additionally prompted scrutiny of the UVA’s lack of motion concerning reporting that state of affairs to the College Judiciary Committee final October. A spokesperson, Brian Coy, mentioned the college proceeded to escalate the report on Tuesday night time.
Jones is accused of attacking college students as they returned again to their Charlottesville campus from a discipline journey to Washington D.C. on Sunday night time (Nov. 13). The previous UVA soccer walk-on opened hearth on the bus carrying the scholars, killing present soccer gamers Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis and D’Sean Perry and wounding two others. Jones was apprehended 12 hours later within the Richmond suburbs after a lockdown was enacted on the campus. Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. is presently being held with out bond.