Va. man accused of killing officers at Bridgewater College was former student

February 4, 2022 Amber Coakley US 0

This photo combo of images provided by Bridgewater College shows campus safety Officer J.J Jefferson, left, and campus police Officer John Painter. On Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022, a gunman shot and killed the two campus officers, prompting a protracted campus lockdown and search before the suspect was apprehended, state police and school officials said. (Matthew Cosner/Courtesy of Bridgewater College via AP)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 10:13 AM PT – Friday, February 4, 2022

Authorities in Virginia shared new information about the man accused of killing two campus police officers at Bridgewater College on Tuesday. The suspect was said to be a former student. Officials said the 27-year-old attended the college from 2013 through 2017 and was a member of the track and cross country teams.

The new details emerged on Wednesday during a court video conference after the gunman, Alex Campbell, was arraigned on five felony counts of murder During the hearing, an attorney asked the judge that Campbell undergo a mental health evaluation as his mother claims he is mentally ill.

On Tuesday, the Virginia State Police public relations manager, Corinne Geller, said the gunman shot and killed campus safety officer J.J. Jefferson and campus police officer John painter during a brief interaction while on campus before fleeing on foot.

“The Bridgewater College police officer and a Bridgewater College campus safety officer responded to a call for suspicious male individual located on the grounds of Memorial Hall here on the Bridgewater campus,” Geller explained. “After a brief interaction with the man, the subject opened fire and shot both officers.”

She then explained a man fitting the shooter’s description was located on Riverside Drive off campus in the town of Bridgewater. Authorities took the individual into custody without incident.

At this time, authorities say it’s unclear as to what the 27-year-old’s motives were as the incident remains under investigation. Campbell is currently being held without bond and is set to reappear in court later this month.