Chesterfield Police announced on October 8, 2026, that Amari Morris, 18, of Richmond was taken into custody in Richmond on a misdemeanor charge of reckless handling of a firearm in connection with the August 15, 2026 shooting on the west side of the Virginia State University campus that injured five people. Morris is the fifth person arrested in the investigation and is being held without bond at the Chesterfield County Jail. Police say Morris is not a student at Virginia State University.
Morris, 18, of Richmond, was taken into custody in Richmond, according to the Chesterfield Police announcement reported October 8, 2026. He faces a misdemeanor charge of reckless handling of a firearm tied to the August 15 shooting on the west side of the VSU campus, an incident that left five people injured. Morris is being held without bond at the Chesterfield County Jail, and investigators say he has no ties to the university.
Five arrested, four believed to have fired
Police say that of the five people arrested so far, four are believed to have fired weapons on the night of the shooting. That means investigators believe the gunfire on the west side of campus on August 15 involved multiple shooters — a detail that has made the investigation, now approaching its third month, a painstaking process of sorting out who did what in the chaos that night.
The Morris arrest, on a misdemeanor charge, underscores how even lower-level charges can be part of the paper trail in a major case. Investigators charged Morris with reckless handling of a firearm, and he is being held without bond at the Chesterfield County Jail while the case against him moves forward.
A two-month trail of arrests
The first arrest came within hours of the shooting. Camron Harris, 19, of Henrico County, was found hiding in a closet at a nearby dorm and charged with four counts each of malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Police say Harris, like Morris, has no ties to Virginia State University.
Ja’niah Johnson, 19, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, was arrested two days after the shooting and charged as an accessory after the fact. Police allege Harris was found hiding in her dorm room.
Narzhea Patron, 18, of Richmond, was arrested around October 2 and charged with carrying a concealed weapon.
Investigation continues
Chesterfield Police say the investigation remains active nearly two months after the shooting and that they continue to search for additional suspects in connection with the campus violence. Anyone with information is urged to contact the department.
With five arrests made and more suspects still being sought, police have made clear that the case is not closed. The Morris arrest is the latest move in a steady sequence of charges that began the night of the shooting itself and has continued into October.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Amari Morris?
Amari Morris is an 18-year-old from Richmond who was taken into custody on October 8, 2026, in connection with the August 15, 2026 shooting on the west side of the Virginia State University campus. Police say he is not a VSU student.
What is he charged with?
Morris is charged with a misdemeanor count of reckless handling of a firearm.
Where is Morris being held?
He is being held without bond at the Chesterfield County Jail.
When and where did the shooting happen?
The shooting occurred on August 15, 2026, on the west side of the Virginia State University campus. Five people were injured.
Who else has been arrested?
Four others: Camron Harris, 19, of Henrico County (four counts each of malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony); Ja’niah Johnson, 19, of Glen Burnie, Maryland (accessory after the fact); and Narzhea Patron, 18, of Richmond (carrying a concealed weapon).
How many of the suspects are believed to have fired weapons?
Police say four of the five people arrested are believed to have fired weapons on the night of the shooting.
Were any of the suspects VSU students?
Police have said that Camron Harris has no ties to Virginia State University and that Amari Morris is not a VSU student.
Is the investigation over?
No. Chesterfield Police say the investigation is ongoing and they continue to search for additional suspects.
Why does a misdemeanor charge matter in this case?
Morris faces a misdemeanor count of reckless handling of a firearm tied to a shooting that injured five people. Police included him among the five people arrested in connection with the August 15 campus violence, and he is being held without bond while his case proceeds.
