8 Shot Near James Madison University, No Students Injured

Eight people were wounded after a shooting near the campus of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. No arrests have been made, according to authorities.

The university released a statement Sunday morning addressing the shooting that took place at 2:20 a.m. at a housing complex in a neighborhood southwest of the university campus.

“While the victims from this incident sustained non-life-threatening injuries and are not students currently enrolled at James Madison University, it is important to keep them in your thoughts as they recover,” the statement read.

The Harrisonburg Police Department said that no arrests have been made in connection to the incident while they continue investigating to identify a suspect or suspects.

More than 20,000 students attend James Madison University, with many living off-campus near housing complexes such as the one on Devon Lane, where the shooting occurred.

Students also typically attend parties in the off-campus housing along Devon Lane, according to a spokesperson from the city.

The victims range in age from 18 to 27, and police say none suffered life-threatening injuries.

As students return from fall break, the university urges its young students to remain alert and safe.

“As we are transitioning back to campus from fall break and the weekend, please remember ways to maintain your personal safety,” the statement reads. “It is important to travel in groups, lock your doors, be aware of your surroundings, know the individuals you welcome into your living space and always report suspicious people and behavior to police immediately.”

Over 100 arrests were made for violent offenses by Harrisonburg police in 2020, while the James Madison University website explicitly lets parents know “that crime does occur throughout the city as well as in the college area. We ask that you talk to your child about personal responsibility to do the right thing but more importantly to not become a victim…”