To say that it was a tragedy would be an understatement. To say the fact that three more young American lives were lost to senseless gun violence is heartbreaking is an understatement. At this point, there’s no statement that can be made that would adequately explain both the frustration at the heartbreak.
The University of Virginia and specifically, five students, fell victim to a mass shooting this past Sunday night. Three of those students, Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D’Sean Perry, were football players at UVA, and tragically, all three were killed when a gunman opened fire on a charter bus that was carrying students returning from a class trip.
A fourth player, Mike Hollins, was hospitalized after he was shot and is now recovering after two separate surgeries. A fifth student, not part of the football program, was also shot but has since been released from the hospital.
In the aftermath of the event, it’s being reported that the ACC will honor Virginia with multiple league-wide shows of support this weekend.
Special helmet decals will be worn by all ACC teams and a moment of silence is going to be observed at all ACC home games. The phrase “UVA Strong” will also be seen on each school’s field, video boards, and on social media, per ESPN.
Even the greatest of wordsmiths struggle to capture the heartbreak, anxiety, and ultimately, senseless loss of life that mass shootings like this one heap onto a community. Words in moments like these oftentimes seem meaningless, as well-intentioned as they may be.
Support and shows of solidarity, even, seem like they’ll never be enough, but that doesn’t stop us from trying.
That doesn’t stop us from banding together as communities and ultimately, as humans.
Let’s be UVA Strong and stand together with our brothers and sisters in Charlottesville.
