Virginia shooting tributes for three killed pour in

Tributes have flooded in for the three university football players with ‘extremely bright futures’ who were gunned down in the latest school shooting to shock America.Classes have been cancelled for a second day at the University of Virginia after the deaths of young football stars Devin Chandler, D’Sean Perry and Virginia Lavel Davis on Sunday.Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., a former player, has been charged with the shooting and faces three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of using a handgun in the commission of a felony, UVA Police Chief Tim Longo said Monday.Hundreds carrying candles joined a vigil held at a main campus on Monday as the community tried to come to terms with the tragedy and tributes flooded in from around the world. Tributes have flooded in for the three university football players killed in Virginia (Image: GETTY) Devin Chandler, D’Sean Perry and Lavel Davis Jr (left to right) were shot dead on Sunday (Image: ASSOCIATED PRESS)Charles Snowden III, who plays for NFL team Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Virginia alumni, said: ‘The University of Virginia seems to face more tragedies than any place should ever have to bear.’But I will never take for granted how the community always comes together and leans on each other. I’m so proud to be a Hoo even in the face tragedy.’Kurt Benkert, football quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers and Virginia alumni, said: ‘Thinking about the players, families, teammates, & coaches involved. This hits so close to home..’I can’t even imagine. Much love to my #uva fam.’All three victims were promising young football stars. Devin Chandler, was a second-year student from Virginia Beach, Deshaun Perry was a fourth-year student from Miami, Florida, and Virginia Lavel Davis was a third-year student from Rich Hill, South Carolina.READ MORE: Suspect arrested following deadly University of Virginia shooting Christopher Jones Jr has been charged and faces three counts of second-degree murder (Image: GETTY) Hundreds carrying candles joined a vigil held at a main campus on Monday (Image: GETTY)UVA’s football team issued a statement following the tragedy saying: ‘There are no words to describe this tremendous loss to our UVA Football family.’Lavel, Devin, D’Sean – you will all be dearly missed and we will never forget the impact you had on our team and community.’Head Football Coach Tony Elliot said: ‘I cannot find the words to express the devastation and heartache that our team is feeling today after the tragic events last night that resulted in the deaths of Label, D’Sean and Devin, and the other who were injured.’These were incredibly young men with huge aspirations and extremely bright futures. Our hearts ache for their families, their classmates and their friends.’These precious young men were called away too soon. We are all fortunate to have them be a part of our lives. They touched us , inspired us and worked incredibly hard as representatives of our programme, university and community. Rest in peace, young men.’ Classes have been cancelled for a second day at the University of Virginia (Image: GETTY)Jack Hamilton, American Studies & Media Studies teacher at UVA, posted a touching Twitter thread where he shared he taught Devin and Lavel.He said that Devin was ‘an unbelievably nice person, always a huge smile, really gregarious and funny’, and noted how Lavel ‘made a point to come up and shake my hand and told me I should call him Vel’.Mr Hamilton then said: ‘I am just stunned and devastated and completely at a loss but wanted to say all this because they were great people with truly limitless futures and they should still be here. it breaks my heart.’The University of Wisconsin, where Devin previously played football, released a statement saying their program was ‘deeply saddened ‘ by the tragic deaths. Kamala Harris said ‘it’s just yet a constant reminder that we have to do better’ (Image: GETTY)It said: ‘This is a difficult time for players and staff because of the lasting impact Devin had on his friends and teammates.’Our thoughts go out to his family, friends and the Virginia football family.’Vice President Kamala Harris also spoke about the shooting shortly after swearing in a new ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago on Monday.She said: ‘It’s tragic. Of course, our prayers are with the families of the victims and it’s just yet a constant reminder that we have to do better in terms of gun safety laws in our country.’The tragedy unfolded on Sunday evening when Mr Chandler, Mr Perry and Mr Davis had returned from a school trip on Sunday night when they were shot on and near a bus, officials said. Two others were injured in the shooting.