Virginia State University Police Officer Injured in Early Morning Shooting, Suspect at Large

Petersburg, Virginia - A Virginia State University police officer is in critical condition after being injured in an early morning shooting near campus. The incident, which occurred around 1:30 a.m., has prompted the campus to go on lockdown as authorities search for the suspect, who remains at large.

According to Chesterfield County police, the on-duty VSU officer responded to a disturbance at the campus when the shooting took place. The suspect fled the scene after firing shots at the officer, leaving him seriously injured. The campus was immediately put on lockdown following the incident, but the lockdown has since been lifted.

The identity of the injured officer has not been released, but he was transported to VCU Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, according to a news release by Virginia State University. Police Chief David Bragg confirmed that the campus remains on lockdown as a precautionary measure.

Chesterfield County Police Chief Jeffrey Katz expressed solidarity with Virginia State University in a statement posted on Facebook. He urged the suspect to turn himself in and assured that his department will not rest until the individual responsible is brought to justice. "CCPD stands in unwavering solidarity with our partners at Virginia State University. We will not rest until the individual who shot the officer is brought to justice," he said.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with support from the Virginia State Police and the FBI, Richmond Division. Authorities are encouraging anyone with information about the incident to contact the Chesterfield County Police Department.

Virginia State University, a historically Black university with approximately 4,000 students, is located in Petersburg, Virginia, about 25 miles south of Richmond. As news of the shooting spreads, concerns for the safety and well-being of the university community have been expressed.

CNN has reached out to the Chesterfield County Police and VSU police for further details on the incident. Updates on the investigation and the officer's condition are expected to be released in the coming days.