Police confirm that 20-year-old man is in custody as of Sunday on suspicion of shooting eight people at an outdoor gathering near the campus of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. According to a statement Sunday afternoon from the Harrisonburg Police Department, the suspect, identified as Tyreaf Isaiah Fleming of Harrisonburg, was arrested about 15 hours after gunfire erupted at a gathering outside an off-campus apartment complex. Fleming faces charges of attempted murder, aggravated malicious wounding, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and the use of a firearm during the commission of a felony, according to police. Additional charges are expected as the investigation continues.
Gunfire broke out approximately 2:20 a.m. on Sunday in a neighborhood southwest of the James Madison University campus, with police saying ‘at least one gunman fired multiple times into a crowd at an outdoor gathering’. Police are also investigating if more suspects were involved in the shooting. All of the victims suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds; five of the victims were taken to nearby Sentara RMH Medical Center and three others were treated at the University of Virginia Medical Center, authorities said. The victims ranged in age from 18 to 27. It was not immediately clear if any students from James Madison University were among those injured.
Police officials said it appeared that the shooting was an isolated incident and said, “there is not believed to be any threat to the greater community at this time.” Anyone with information about the shooting can call the agency’s tip line at (540) 574-5050.
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