BRIDGEWATER, Va. — Bridgewater College and Virginia State Police (VSP) said two campus officers were shot and a suspect was in custody following an active shooter situation on Tuesday afternoon.
Bridgewater College President David Bushman confirmed both officers died in a letter emailed to staff and students. The Virginia Chiefs of Police identified them as Bridgewater College Police Officer John Painter and Campus Safety Officer J.J. Johnson.
A shelter in place order was in effect for several hours at the Shenandoah Valley college before being lifted around 4:30 p.m.
VSP said Alexander Wyatt Campbell, 27, was arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder, one count of first-degree murder, and one count of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
According to VSP, the incident began around 1:20 p.m. when the officers responded to a call of a suspicious man on the grounds of Memorial Hall.
After they briefly interacted with the man, the suspect shot both officers and fled. Immediately following a 911 call, several law enforcement agencies responded and began search efforts.
VSP said a man who matched a description of the shooter was found on Riverside Drive in the town of Bridgewater. He waded through the river and onto an island in the North River. The man, later identified as Campbell, was then taken into custody without incident.
Campbell was taken to a hospital for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, where he was treated and released. VSP is working to find out if he was shot by a college police officer or shot himself.
Campbell is now being held without bond at the Rockingham County Jail. According to VSP, multiple firearms associated with Campbell were recovered as evidence.
Authorities have not given a possible motive for the shooting.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin released a statement saying he ordered that the U.S. and Virginia flags be flown at half-staff Wednesday in honor of Painter and Johnson:
“My heart is broken tonight by the tragic loss of two officers at Bridgewater College today. These officers were dedicated to protecting the students and faculty of the college and I have ordered that the flags of the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Virginia be flown at half-staff tomorrow to honor their memory and courageous efforts. The First Lady and I ask Virginians to keep their family, friends, and the Bridgewater community in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
On Tuesday evening, Bridgewater Mayor Ted Flory issued the following statement:
This evening, a community of peace grieves.
Bridgewater is shocked by today’s senseless violence at Bridgewater College. We are heartbroken by the needless injuries and loss of life. And we are rightly angered at the evil which alighted upon us.
But even in our grief, we turn our heads and we see the goodness of humanity: police officers running toward the danger, rescue personnel rushing in, and neighbors keeping each other safe. In this goodness, we find the strength to go forward and to offer our love to victims’ families and to the entire Bridgewater College Community. In this moment, let us all remember how connected we are in this tiny town.
Indeed, a community of peace grieves, but let it also be said that a community of strength perseveres, and a community of love, loves. There will be much more pain in the coming days, but I urge my fellow citizens to confront it with these three pillars of peace, strength, and love.
Bridgewater College is a private liberal arts college that traces its roots to 1880 when it opened as Spring Creek Normal School and Collegiate Institute. Its website says that it had approximately 1,500 full-time students (undergraduate and graduate) as of fall 2021. The average class size is 19, and the school offers 55 majors and minors and four graduate programs, as well as other programs.
The homepage of Bridgewater's website says that SafeAtLast recognized it as the safest college in Virginia and ranked it among the top 25 safest institutions in the United States.