Former Gulliver Prep star D’Sean Perry one of 3 killed in Virginia shooting, per report

David Wilson
·2 min read
21

Another mass shooting Sunday, this time at the University of Virginia, claimed the life of a former Miami Gulliver Prep star.

D’Sean Perry, who graduated from the Pinecrest private school in 2019, was one of three Virginia Cavaliers killed in the Charlottesville shooting. All three played on the football team and the prime suspect, who is in custody, is a former player, too.

Perry was a junior linebacker. He was 22.

The other two killed were wide receivers Lavel Davis Jr. and Devin Chandler. Two others were also shot, with one in good condition and the other in critical condition, university president James E. Ryan said.

“This is an unimaginably sad day for our community,” Ryan said. “The entire university community is grieving this morning. My heart is broken for the victims and their families, and for all of those who knew and loved them. And they are all in my prayers.

“When I see our students, I see my own kids. and I cannot imagine anything worse for a parent than to lose a child. Please know that we will do everything we can to honor their lives and will come together soon as a community to mourn these losses.”

Chris Jones, the suspected shooter, was a former walk-on running back and was in custody Monday. The university lifted a shelter-in-place order at about 10:30 a.m. after being in effect for roughly 12 hours.

Perry, who was 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, recorded two tackles Saturday in Virginia’s 37-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers, and had seven total tackles this season and eight in his career. He also returned an interception for a touchdown as a freshman in 2020.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - SEPTEMBER 17: Old Dominion Monarchs running back Blake Watson (2) rushes up field attempting to elude Virginia Cavaliers linebacker D’Sean Perry (41) during a college football game between the Old Dominion Monarchs and the Virginia Cavaliers on September 17, 2022, at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, VA. (Photo by Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

The edge rusher signed with the Cavaliers in the Class of 2019 as a three-star weakside defensive end, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. He was a first-team all-county selection by the Miami Herald as a senior at Gulliver in 2018, piling up 89 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, three sacks and three interceptions to help the Raiders reach the Region 4-Class 4A semifinals. In his high school career, Perry had 199 tackles, 41 tackles for loss and 15 sacks.

Perry’s parents were flying up from Miami to Virginia in the wake of the shooting Monday, The Daily Progress reported.

The shooting occurred late Sunday, in a parking garage on the university’s Central Grounds. It occurred on a bus bringing students back from a field trip to see a play in Washington, Ryan said.