‘He drew young people towards him’: Teammates, coaches remember CMS grad killed in UVA shooting
Authorities in Virginia released the names of the victims in a Sunday night shooting at the University of Virginia, which includes a CMS graduate, Channel 9 learned.
Three people died and two were hurt in the shooting.
Police said Devin Chandler, a Hough High School graduate, was one of three victims in Sunday night shooting at UVA. Chandler was a junior football player at the school and previously played football at Wisconsin.
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‘Dev found a way’
Former teammate Evan Pryor said the two of them met in 2019 and were like brothers.
Pryor, a running back at Ohio State University, said he recently spoke with Chandler on Friday.
Chandler energized those around him, Pryor said.
Pryor suffered a season-ending knee injury last summer and Chandler told him to focus the positive parts of his life.
Pryor said Chandler made people around him better.
“Looking around, certain people reach out and you can see the people he affected,” Pryor said. “People all over the world, who you wouldn’t have any connection with, but Dev found a way.”
Pryor said Chandler continues to bring people together.
In the last 24 hours, Pryor has been on the phone with some of his classmates he hasn’t connected with in years because of their respect and love for Chandler.
Former high school honors Chandler
Hough’s football team released a statement on Twitter.
“It saddens us to have to write this, but sending healing energy and prayers to his family,” the team said.
Hough football coach Matthew Jenkins spoke about his former player on Monday, who he coached in 2020.
“He drew young people towards him,” Jenkins said. “He was going to be a leader in whatever he chose to do, in whatever field he chose to work in. Unfortunately the world lost a good one.”
Just spoke with Devin Chandler’s high school football coach, Matthew Jenkins of @HoughFB.
Among the memories that stood out? How Chandler celebrated his teammates’ success as if it were his own. #UVA | @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/kPBVcQUjn1— DaShawn Brown (@DaShawnWSOC9) November 14, 2022
Tad Hudson, Hough’s senior quarterback, spoke about Chandler. The two played together during Chandler’s senior year.
“I don’t know if it’s fully set in yet,” Hudson said. “It’s kind of crazy. I haven’t had anybody that close to me die yet. He was a brother and we fought hard on the same team together. It’s tough.”
Hough plans to honor Chandler with helmet decals in their upcoming playoff game.
Chandler started his high school football career at Arlington High School in Tennessee. He transferred to Hough for his senior season. Authorities said Chandler is originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia.
University of Virginia President Jim Ryan confirmed Devin Chandler was among three student-athletes killed in a shooting on campus last night.
The former @HoughFB wide receiver was in his Junior season after transferring from Wisconsin.
Even heartbreaking seems to fall short. https://t.co/RoduO2O77S pic.twitter.com/i9GODHeE3a— DaShawn Brown (@DaShawnWSOC9) November 14, 2022
Suspect in custody
Lavel Davis, a third-year student from Ridgeville, South Carolina, and D’Sean Perry, a fourth-year student from Miami were identified as the other two victims who died.
UVA President James Ryan said the shooting happened on a bus full of students returning from a field trip. The injured students, who were not identified, were in good and critical condition, Ryan said.
The suspect, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., was taken into custody Monday morning, according to police.
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