Father of UVA shooting suspect apologizes, says he 'still can't believe' what happened


The father of the University of Virginia shooting suspect spoke out Monday, and apologized on his son's behalf.
Christopher Darnell Jones Sr. told WWBT-TV Richmond that he "still can't believe" what happened. His son, UVA student Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., is the primary suspect in Sunday's shooting on the university's Charlottesville campus. The attack left three members of the school's football team dead and injured two more. The suspect was a member of the football team himself in 2018, but did not play any games, USA Today reported.
Jones Jr. was taken into custody on Monday and charged with three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of felony use of a handgun, The Hill reported.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The suspect's father said the last time he spoke to his son was one month ago, and that "he seemed like he was doing really well ... He still was upbeat, and he was positive."
"I don't know what happened between then and now to cause this to happen," Jones Sr. added.
Despite this, though, Jones Sr. said something seemed off with his son when they talked.
"He had some problems the last time I talked to him. He said some people were picking on him or whatever, he didn't know how to handle it and I told him just go to school, don't pay it any mind," Jones Sr. said. "I don't know what to say except I'm sorry on his behalf, and I apologize ... I don't know what happened to cause all of this."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
How historically accurate is House of Guinness?
In the Spotlight The glossy Netflix show about the family behind the world-famous stout mixes fact with fiction
-
The week’s best photos
In Pictures A perching raven, a fearless climber, and more
-
Back to the future: Kids embrace ‘old school’ devices
Under the radar From MP3s to sewing machines
-
4 dead in shooting, arson attack in Michigan church
Speed Read A gunman drove a pickup truck into a Mormon church where he shot at congregants and then set the building on fire
-
Colleges are being overwhelmed with active shooter hoaxes
In the Spotlight More than a dozen colleges have reported active shooter prank calls
-
2 kids killed in shooting at Catholic school mass
Speed Read 17 others were wounded during a morning mass at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis
-
Australian woman found guilty of mushroom murders
speed read Erin Patterson murdered three of her ex-husband's relatives by serving them toxic death cap mushrooms
-
Combs convicted on 2 of 5 charges, denied bail
Speed Read Sean 'Diddy' Combs was acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking
-
Sniper kills 2 Idaho firefighters in ambush
Speed Read A man started a wildfire, then fired a rifle at first responders when they arrived
-
Weinstein convicted of sex crime in retrial
Speed Read The New York jury delivered a mixed and partial verdict at the disgraced Hollywood producer's retrial
-
'King of the Hill' actor shot dead outside home
speed read Jonathan Joss was fatally shot by a neighbor who was 'yelling violent homophobic slurs,' says his husband