'Devastated' UVA Students Tell of Horror of Campus Shooting

University of Virginia (UVA) students are speaking about a terror-filled night when they were forced to shelter in place following the killing of three people on campus.

The shooting happened at a garage on Culbreth Road in Charlottesville at around 10:30 p.m. Sunday, authorities said. The UVA's Office of Emergency Management issued an alert telling students to shelter in place while police searched for the suspect, identified as UVA student Christopher Darnell Jones.

At about 10:30 a.m. Monday, the university police department tweeted that the shelter in place order had been lifted "based upon a thorough search on and around Grounds." In addition to the three people killed, two others were wounded, UVA President Jim Ryan confirmed in a message to the university community. Classes were canceled Monday.

"I and many other students at UVA are utterly devastated by the events that have happened last night," Hana Suliman, a fourth-year student studying global public health and African-American studies, told Newsweek.

"I haven't been able to sleep. I haven't been able to eat," added the 21-year-old, who has been sheltering at an off-campus apartment since Sunday night.

Suliman is "still trying to recognize the reality that three dear students that I may have taken classes with or seen at a party or been my friends/acquaintances are not here with us anymore."

"Two students are injured and actively attempting to recover from a senseless gun violence incident they had no part in. It's just mindless, and I want everyone to know that UVA students stand with the victims. I just hope the suspect is apprehended soon," Suliman said.

Another UVA student told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that she was in her dormitory when she heard six gunshots ring out.

Em Gunter sent a message to the 350 other residents in her building and told them to stay inside. Gunter, who was sheltering in her room with friends, tweeted early Monday, "This is terrifying."

In another tweet several hours later, Gunter said: "I'm probably going to go to bed soon. The #UVA shooter is still at large. I'm just as tired and terrified and wanted this to be over."

UVA student Keoni Vega tweeted: "Incredibly distraught over the tragedy that has taken place tonight at the University of Virginia. With the suspect still at large, we are still being advised to shelter in place. Serious reform is needed in this country, and young people must demand it."

Update 11/14/22, 10:55 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to state that the shelter in place order at UVA was lifted.