Two officers killed, man in custody at Virginia college

Two officers were shot dead and a man is in custody following a Tuesday incident at Bridgewater College in Virginia that kept the campus locked down for more than three hours.

Bridgewater President David Bushman reportedly sent a message to the community saying that police officer John Painter and safety officer J.J. Jefferson, close friends known on campus as the “dynamic duo,” had died from their injuries.

Police did not immediately release the shooter’s name or disclose a possible motivation.

“I have been briefed on the situation at Bridgewater College. The shooter is in custody and state and local police are on the scene. I will continue to monitor the situation in conjunction with law enforcement,” Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) said on Twitter.

Bridgewater at 1:24 p.m. first issued a shelter-in-place order on its Twitter account, citing “reports of active shooter on campus.”

“This is not a test. More info to follow,” the school tweeted, later adding, “Text to let your loved ones know you are okay.”

At 4:33 p.m., more than two hours after the reported arrest, Bridgewater lifted the order.

“This is an all clear notification. More information will come via campus email,” the college said.

“For additional safety purposes, law enforcement officials will be moving through buildings. Do not be alarmed. listen to officers’ instructions,” it had tweeted at 2:37.

Photos posted on social media showed at least 10 armed officers, most with their guns drawn, approaching a shirtless man prone on the ground. 

In response to The Hill’s request for comment, a Youngkin spokesperson pointed to the governor’s earlier tweet.

“I do not know what evil is responsible for this terrible and heartbreaking event. It is clear that something is wrong in our society when tragedies like this occur. Whether it is hate, drugs, mental illness or some other underlying factor, these are urgent priorities on which we must work together,” state Sen. Mark Obenshain (R) said in a statement to WAVY.

“The Shenandoah Valley is a caring, God-loving and supportive corner of Virginia, but this event is a terrible reminder of the evils that can lurk in the shadows of any community,” Obenshain added.

Local resident Ecliff Graves told The Richmond Times-Dispatch he had seen police officers follow the path of a man running away from campus with a large duffle bag.

“Whatever he had in that bag was very heavy,” Graves said.

Graves said he heard a single shot. 

“I heard one little pop,” he said, adding that it could have been a “hand gun.”

“I said, ‘That’s sort of weird.'”

Bridgewater is a small, private liberal arts college with approximately 1,800 students.

The Hill has reached out to the college and the Virginia State Police for further comment.

—Updated at 6:44 p.m.