Jameson Pastor, the 23-year-old man charged with second-degree murder in the deaths of three University of Virginia football players, wanted to clarify something as he spoke about it this week.
McLaughlin told Sports TODAY USA, “My heart certainly goes out to those families referring to the victims. This is also devastating because I saw something in him that was well as traumatic and tragic.”
On Sunday night, the university campus underwent a lockdown following a 12-hour manhunt, which concluded at 11 a.M. On Monday with the apprehension of Jones. Jones stands accused of the murder of three football players and the injury of two individuals in a shooting spree aboard a charter bus that had returned to the university’s campus in Charlottesville from a field trip to Washington, D.C. The individual in question is Christopher Darnell Jones Jr.
Marlee Morgan has been recognized as the fifth individual who was shot, as reported by ESPN. Mike Hollins, a fellow athlete in the football field, sustained injuries in his back and is currently recuperating from two surgical procedures, as confirmed by his mother during an interview with ESPN. The incidents resulted in the tragic deaths of D’Sean Perry, Lavel Davis Jr., And Devin Chandler.
In Petersburg, Virginia, Pastor Senior McLaughlin of New Hope Baptist Church is well-remembered for his love for people. However, Jones joined the team of Chandler, Davis, and Perry before becoming a walk-on football player in Virginia in 2018.
While in study hall, Jones provided academic assistance to his teammates and successfully completed his high school education with an impressive grade point average of 4.2. Additionally, he actively participated in the National Honor Society and held the prestigious position of president in the Key Club. Jones demonstrated exceptional skills as both a running back and linebacker at Petersburg High School.
PERSPECTIVE: UVA grieves the loss of football players who were tragically killed in a shooting, as the sadness deepens with unresolved queries.
McLaughlin, aged 42, who participated in football at Petersburg High and has continued to be engaged with the program, expressed, “He exhibited leadership both on and off the field. Despite his shorter height of 5-9, he was one of those individuals who truly stood out.”
On Sunday, Jones, a senior at the university, was involved in a fatal shooting. Despite being injured, he remained enrolled at UVA and continued his graduate assistant position for the football team at Virginia’s university. This occurred about a month after his football stint ended due to an injury, according to Matteo Jackson.
The attention shifted to the potential reason, he mentioned, but shortly after, McLaughlin stated that the response was one of astonishment when the information about Jones’ apprehension reached Petersburg, a town with a population of around 33,000 and located approximately 100 miles to the east of the University of Virginia.
“Was it bullying?” McLaughlin said. “That’s one consistent question I’ve heard.”Output: “Was it harassment?” McLaughlin said. “That’s one constant question I’ve heard.”
Speculation of harassment increased after remarks by Christopher Darnell Jones Sr., The father of the individual charged with the homicides.
According to Christopher Darnell Jones Sr., His son informed him that he was being targeted by others during an interview with the NBC affiliate in Richmond on Monday. The discussion occurred approximately a month ago, and it marked the final occasion that Jones’ father had encountered his son.
During the interview, Christopher Darnell Jones Sr. Expressed, “He encountered certain difficulties the previous time we conversed. He mentioned that some individuals were harassing him or something along those lines, and he admitted to feeling clueless about how to cope with it. I advised him to simply attend school and disregard the matter. When I conversed with him, he appeared excessively anxious but refrained from divulging all the details. He was an extremely perceptive young man.”
Kayreign Lundy, who played football with Jones at Petersburg High in 2017, said he’s been in contact with teammates since the shootings.
“We didn’t believe they were sincere about the bullying, the mistreatment, we’ve been informed about,” Lundy informed USA TODAY Sports. “Because Chris is not the kind of person to be subjected to bullying, considering his stature and his ability to interact harmoniously with others.”
Jones, the player who rallied the team in the High Petersburg football game, also tutored English and math and sparked the needed enthusiasm. Lundy pointed that out.
Lundy stated, “Always keeping their heads up, always keeping their minds up, people always bringing them down, were people at that time. He would help whoever needed it and Chris would come in, when we had study halls.”
However, Chris Jones was a young individual recognized differently by those acquainted with his history.
Jones faced harassment in school, according to a friend
The Richmond Times-Dispatch published a story in 2018 chronicling Jones’ successes and struggles, acknowledging that he traced some of his behavioral issues and suspensions to his early years, which resulted in fights at school where he said anger issues were the cause.
Jones did not see each other until he left high school, and he was 5 years old when his father said that.
Recently featured in an article by the Washington Post, a close acquaintance and fellow football player from his time in middle school revealed that Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. Experienced bullying during his school years.
Chris was consistently a pleasant individual. He developed in an unfavorable circumstance with his father not being very present in his life and his mother not being in the best financial state,” Brion Logan conveyed to the Washington Post. “Chris would sport antiquated garments and antiquated footwear that numerous individuals did not wear at that time, and they would ridicule him because of his predicament.”
Jourdan Davis-Dewitt, a former track companion during Jones’ early years of high school, shared similar memories.
TODAY Sports USA informed Davis-Dewitt, “He didn’t express his anger in sports because he used it as an outlet. I wouldn’t even say his best in high school because it wouldn’t convey his anger. I wouldn’t call him a danger. When a lot happened and he was bullied, he would only lash out.”
During the lesson, Jones mentioned that the rest of the students were not anticipating a child from low-income housing to participate by raising his hand. He faced taunting due to his background, but he emphasized that this occurred frequently.
He informed the publication, “I would become angry because my intellect was being offended. Children would tease me — ‘Why did you perform that action? Why did you respond to that query?’ ” Jones stated. “And in that realm, disregard implies you ought to engage in combat.”
According to Jones, the conflict ceased when he relocated to live with his father and paternal grandmother and switched to Petersburg High School prior to his third year. He informed the newspaper that mentors assisted him in releasing his frustration. Lundy, one of Jones’ fellow players at Petersburg, expressed unawareness of any harassment.
However, Jones encountered trouble once more while he was studying at Virginia.
Jones was involved in a concealed weapon violation in 2021, as reported by UVA Police Chief Timothy Longo Sr. To journalists on Monday.
Longo stated that the investigation team discovered a prior criminal incident involving a concealed weapon violation that occurred outside in the city of Charlottesville in February 2021. This information came to light during the assessment of the threat course.
According to Longo, Jones was also implicated in a hazing inquiry that was terminated due to uncooperative witnesses.
Following a short video conference in Albemarle District Court, a judge decreed that Jones should be detained without bail on Wednesday. Jones has been granted until his upcoming court hearing on Dec. 8 to secure legal representation and was not requested to submit a plea. Authorities have yet to establish a motive for the assault.
A commemorative ceremony for Perry, Davis, and Chandler will occur on Saturday at John Paul Jones Arena, located on the campus.
“This is not the Chris that we know,” said Lundy, Jones’ ex-teammate who currently serves as a security guard.
The clergyman, McLaughlin, discovered himself mending the individual who currently confronts three charges of manslaughter in the second degree and the Chris Jones he was acquainted with during his time at Petersburg High School.
“Numerous individuals are posing inquiries,” McLaughlin expressed, “endeavoring to ascertain what transpired.”
Contributing: The Progress-Index, Dan Wolken from USA TODAY.