BRIDGEWATER, Va. — A former student at a private college in Virginia has been arraigned on murder charges, a day after authorities say he returned to his alma mater and fatally shot two campus officers.
Police identified the gunman in Tuesday’s shooting at Bridgewater College as 27-year-old Alexander Wyatt Campbell. A spokeswoman for the small liberal arts school said Campbell was a student there from 2013 to 2017.
Campbell made his first court appearance Wednesday, and WWBT NBC12 reported he appeared via video conference and appeared to be restrained in a chair.
An attorney appointed by the judge to represent Campbell asked that Campbell undergo a mental health evaluation.
The Virginia State Police (VSP) said Thursday evening that Campbell is charged with aggravated murder of a police officer, first-degree murder, aggravated murder of multiple persons within three years, aggravated murder of multiple persons and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
According to VSP, investigators are still trying to figure out if Campbell was shot by Officer Painter or suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
There is still no information about the motive or circumstances of the shooting.
A law enforcement procession for Bridgewater College Police Officer John Painter and Campus Safety Officer J.J. Johnson is set for Thursday around 2 p.m. along Interstate 81.