November 17, 2022
The Honorable Jason S. Miyares
Attorney General of Virginia
202 North Ninth Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Dear General Miyares,
We would like to thank you and your team for the support you have provided as our community
reckons with the death of three University of Virginia students and serious injuries to two others in a
shooting that law enforcement authorities believe was perpetrated by Christopher Darnell Jones, Jr., a
fellow University student.
As you know, University Police have requested that the Virginia State Police assume primary
responsibility for the continued criminal investigation of this tragic incident. University Police officials,
along with other state and federal law enforcement agencies, will continue to assist the Virginia State
Police in the criminal investigation into this matter, which we expect will support a successful
prosecution of Mr. Jones.
As that investigation proceeds, there are many valid questions about the shooting that have yet to
be answered and are unlikely to be answered in the course of criminal proceedings.
Accordingly, we write today to request that you exercise your authority under Virginia law to
appoint outside special counsel with expertise in these matters to conduct an independent review of the
University’s response to the shooting, as well as the efforts the University undertook in the period before
the tragedy to assess the potential threat Mr. Jones posed to our community. Finally, we request that the
special counsel review all relevant University policies and procedures and make recommendations if
opportunities for improvement or needs for change are identified.
We will cooperate fully with your office and the special counsel who conducts the review. We
thank you again for your leadership and support in this difficult moment.
Sincerely,
Whittington W. Clement
Rector
James E. Ryan
President
