NORFOLK, Va. — Three men are facing charges for the murder earlier this year of 20-year-old Norfolk State University engineering student Jahari George.
NSU first made the announcement on Instagram on Thursday afternoon. The Norfolk Police Department later confirmed three suspects had been arrested and were in custody.
Officers found George shot on Gatehouse Road on September 2, not far from campus.
"Just four months shy of his 21st birthday," said Jahari's mother TeAnna George prior to a private memorial service on September 13. "He was not out partying. He was not hanging out in the streets. While it was considered off-campus, Jahari was parked outside his dorm."
Police said 21-year-old Marquas Gregg, 18-year-old Camari Warren, and 18-year-old Cameron Brown have all been charged with second-degree murder, conspiracy, and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Gregg was arrested in Richmond. 13News Now confirmed he is a student at Virginia Union University, where he has ties to the football program.
"We confirm that this individual has been enrolled as a student at the university. He has not played on the team this season and there was no arrest made on campus. The university has no further comment."
-Virginia Union University Spokesperson
Warren and Brown were both taken into custody in Portsmouth. Police said all three men are currently held without bond. Investigators have not said if any of the suspects knew George or the circumstances or motivation of the shooting.
"This certainly was a team effort, and the Norfolk Police Department extends our sincere appreciation to each of our law enforcement partners who assisted us with [Thursday's] arrest," a spokesperson with the Norfolk Police Department told 13News Now.
A junior from Maryland, Jahari George was a Presidential Scholar and part of the Robert C. Nusbaum Honors College. Among other roles, he most recently served as the public relations manager for 2023-2024 Student Government Association.
"I want Jahari remembered as someone who cared about his impact on people and the community," his mother said shortly after his murder.
On Thursday night, the family released this statement:
"The George Family is currently in the process of grappling with this situation. At this moment, we are not prepared to provide a statement as we are still mourning the sudden and tragic loss of our son, Jahari Deon George, a junior at NSU, whose life was taken abruptly."
-Family Spokesperson Kimberly Wimbish, KMK Productions.
"The campus community is still mourning the loss of Mr. George, and we hope his family and the NSU community can find solace in knowing the individuals responsible will be brought to justice," the university said in a Thursday social media post announcing the arrests.
"The university family is urged to continue to maintain our culture of care as we collectively work through this difficult time," the statement continued. "Plans are underway to provide a fitting tribute to Jahari and to memorialize his time here at Norfolk State."
Reactions from George's friends are also pouring in. For months, they, too, waited for answers.
NSU sophomore A'lauren Gilchrist learned about the arrests and said, "It still hurts that Jahari is not here, but reading that information, it kind of gave me a sense of peace."
Gilchrist knew George through multiple student organizations.
“Let’s just not forget his spirit, his creative spirit, and his diligence because that’s something I honestly really admired about him," she added.
NSU also said counseling services are available through the NSU Counseling Center.