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Devin Chandler, one of the three University of Virginia football players killed by a gunman Sunday night on the Charlottesville campus, had Hawaii ties as a former student of Saint Louis School in Kaimuki.
And several Virginia athletes who also have island connections spoke out Monday to mourn the loss of their football brothers.
Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry were part of a group of University of Virginia students returning to campus from a class trip to see a play when, authorities say, the three were killed by a fellow student. Two other students were injured. A suspect, 22-year-old Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., is in custody.
Tim Los Banos, principal at Saint Louis School, recalled that Chandler had enrolled as a sixth grader at Saint Louis and left after completing the eighth grade in 2016, after which the family moved to Tennessee. One parent had been in the Navy, Los Banos said.
“Devin Chandler is still considered part of the Kalaepohaku ohana, and this tragic news comes as a shock to us,” Los Banos said in a statement.
“This also underscores today’s climate of schools nationwide: It’s fearful that preparedness for campus shootings is a necessity. Our prayers and thoughts go out to the Chandler family and the families of his teammates from the University of Virginia.”
Chandler was a wide receiver from Huntersville, N.C., according to The Associated Press. He lived in Virginia Beach and had transferred from the University of Wisconsin to the University of Virginia, Jim Ryan, president of the latter school, said Monday.
Wayne Taulapapa, who is listed on the Virginia athletics website as a football player from Laie and Punahou School graduate, tweeted, “Can’t put into words the physical and mental pain that comes with losing not just teammates, but brothers. You were never just football players, but rather examples of great and honorable young men. I’m with UVA families in prayer and support. Family, first, last, and always.”
Aaron Faumui, a Virginia football teammate who names Honolulu as his hometown and Kapolei High School as his alma mater on the Virginia website, spoke briefly through tears a few hours after the shooting: “I don’t even know what to say right now,” said the college senior, who plays defensive tackle. “I just want to say they were three young great men.”
Mark Atuaia, a Kahuku High School alumnus and Washington State University running back coach who once was a UVA assistant coach, tweeted that some people will remember Chandler from his childhood in Hawaii. “Imma try my absolute hardest to get through the next second, minute, hour, day, month, year, earthly existence without these beautiful souls,” Atuaia said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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