Several people were injured in a shooting involving multiple suspects at Virginia State University, prompting a temporary campus closure early Saturday morning, just days before the start of the new academic year. The shooting occurred around 1:30 a.m. outside a residence hall, and both campus police and the Chesterfield County Police Department are investigating, according to a statement from the university. When police arrived, they found five people with gunshot wounds. James R. Lamb of the Chesterfield County Police Department’s Major Crimes Criminal Investigations Unit said officials have only confirmed that one victim was a student. Investigators believe the other victims may be from surrounding communities, Lamb told CBS News. He said the incident was not a drive-by shooting and that police are searching for several shooters. The victims were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. One person is currently in critical condition, while the remaining four suffered non-life-threatening injuries, the university said. Police and university officials have not identified any of the victims or said whether they are related to the university. pic.twitter.com/f0NBAWU38r — Virginia State University (@VSU_1882) August 15, 2026 School officials said “a significant police presence remains on campus” as police continue their investigation. It was not immediately clear if any suspects had been arrested. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office were assisting, county police said. Virginia State University is a historically black university in Ettrick, Virginia, about 24 miles south of the state capital, Richmond. The public university has about 5,700 students and was the first fully state-funded four-year university for African Americans. Classes for the new academic year were scheduled to begin Monday, CBS News affiliate WTVR reported. According to the university’s website, residence halls opened to students a week ago and classes will begin Monday. Many students had just completed the university’s “New Trojan Experience” for incoming students. Arthur Fridrich, the university’s former director of distance education, who lives near the campus and visits regularly, told the Associated Press that a shooting just before students returned to class is heartbreaking for the community. “Starting a new year with this event is very tragic. It casts a shadow on the minds of all students, and for some it will be difficult to shake this quarter,” Fridrich said. “For those who were shot, my heart bleeds. I hope everyone recovers and somehow doesn’t let this event define their lives.” The Associated Press contributed to this report. More from CBS News Go deeper with The Free Press in: