‘He has remorse’: Day 3 of testimonies ahead of sentencing for man who killed 3 UVA football players

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WRIC) — Defense attorneys began calling witnesses to testify for the sentencing of the man who killed three University of Virginia football players on Wednesday.

Wednesday, Nov. 19 marked day 3 of 5 for the case against 26-year-old Christopher Darnell Jones, Jr., with the Commonwealth's Attorney having finished calling its witnesses on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

Jones killed D’Sean Perry, Devin Chandler and Lavel Davis, Jr. on a charter bus coming back from a school field trip in Washington, D.C. in 2022.

A full recap of the first day of opening statements and testimony can be found here. A full recap of the second day of testimony can be found here.

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The defense team for Jones called seven witnesses to the stand on Wednesday, ranging from his family members to mentors.

Facts of the case

On Nov. 13, 2022, around 27 UVA students headed to Washington, D.C. by bus, leaving campus a little before lunchtime. They were going to see a play as part of their African American Theatre class taught by Professor Theresa Davis.

The first 911 call of shots being fired came in at 10:58 p.m., just as the students were arriving back on campus.

Jones fled the scene and wasn’t arrested until around 11 hours later in Henrico County.

Twenty-two-year-old D’Sean Perry of Miami, Fla., 20-year-old Devin Chandler of Virginia Beach and 20-year-old Lavel Davis Jr. of Ridgeville, S.C., died at the scene. Michael Hollins, also a UVA football player at the time, and Marlee Morgan, a student, were wounded.

Jones pleaded guilty to 10 charges on Nov. 20, 2024, including three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated malicious wounding and five counts of the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. His plea deal includes the possibility of parole if given a life sentence.

The prosecution is being led by Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Hingley and the defense by Douglas Ramseur. The case is being heard by presiding Judge Cheryl Higgins.

Witnesses One and Two

The first two witnesses the defense called on were Antonio Clarke, Jones's uncle, and Antonio Clarke, Jr., Jones's cousin. For clarity purposes, we will be referring to his uncle as Clarke and his cousin as Clarke, Jr.

Both men described Jones's childhood as physically abusive, referring to his parents as Margot and Darnell. Darnell is Clarke's late wife's brother.

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Clarke said Jones, who is the oldest of four, grew up nearby, and that Clarke, Jr. spent lots of time at their house since he is an only child. Clarke, Jr. said he and Jones did everything together growing up, since he's only three years older. They witnessed arguments between Margot and Darnell that started as verbal, then turned physical.

Clarke described one particular incident where Margot locked Darnell out, so he slashed her tires, broke the car windows and then broke a window to the house to get in. Clarke said Margot tried to tough out the abuse for the sake of the children.

He said Darnell treated the four kids "military style" and that everything "had to be done a certain way."

Clarke, Jr. described Jones's home as a "warzone." He said that, if one of the kids acted up, they would all be punished. He testified that he wanted to spend time at their home to "show there's a different way" of life.

Clarke said he went to their house one time and all four kids were sitting on the couch silently with their hands in their laps. If they moved, they "would get hit." He said that "sometimes it would go too far."

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Clarke remembered one instance where he heard Darnell beating Jones so badly in one of the bedrooms that he intervened.

Clarke said Margot's final straw with Darnell was when he stole money meant for the electric bill. The two separated and Darnell was given visitation rights, but he wasn't consistent with showing up. Clarke said he had to start having supervised visitation after he hit one of the children during a visit.

The fighting impacted Jones the most, according to Clarke, because he was the oldest and could understand it the most.

Clarke said Jones and Margot began fighting more when he got to middle school. Margot would call the police and threaten to kick him out. Jones was seeing a counselor who wanted to work with both him and Margot, but Clarke said she refused, claiming Jones was the problem, not her.

Jones began playing football in middle school and soon realized it could be a way to a better life. He attended Varina High School in Henrico County for his first three years of high school, where Clarke said he got into two or three fights. He then transferred to Petersburg High School for his senior year. This required him to move out of Margot's home and into his father's and grandmother's.

Multiple witnesses on Wednesday testified that Jones and his grandmother, Granny Mary, were very close.

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Clarke said he thought moving "wasn't going to do any good," as "it's always a problem with Darnell." Clarke, Jr. said he felt Jones didn't have the support he needed around him after moving.

But Clarke, Jr. also acknowledged that the year Jones moved was his most successful, both academically and athletically. He won homecoming king and committed to attending UVA.

Clarke didn't see Jones from 2017 until the summer of 2022, a few months before the shooting, when he and Clarke, Jr. were visiting Granny Mary with Jones.

Clarke said Jones "was totally different" -- he seemed paranoid, and he said "people were after him." Clarke and Clarke, Jr. said Jones always took pride in his appearance, but that he "looked very rough" this day.

Clarke, Jr. said Jones agreed he needed help and wanted to get better.

Neither Clarke nor Clarke, Jr. were aware that Jones was using and selling drugs in 2022. The Commonwealth's Attorney did not specify which types of drugs.

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"It's still unreal," Clarke said. "I still can't believe ... that I'm testifying at his sentencing hearing."

Clarke said he has not talked to Jones about whether or not he is remorseful. He said that, due to mental health treatment Jones has received behind bars, he believes he's more "clear-headed" and is ready to move on from his violent past.

Granny Mary passed away in May.

Witness Three

The third witness to take the stand was Dr. Cyndee Blount. She met Jones in 2017 as he was entering his senior year and first year at Petersburg High School, when she was second in charge to the superintendent.

"He immediately gelled with the students," she said.

She said Jones introduced himself to her and said he wanted to ensure he was on the right academic track and would have leadership opportunities. Blount said this was not a normal thing for students to do.

Jones was voted homecoming king about three months later, something Blount said showed his "ability to connect to people."

She said Jones was at school on time every day. He went to football practice, worked at Taco Bell to provide for Granny Mary and would either walk or take the bus home late at night. She said Granny Mary was Jones' "pride and joy."

Blount recounted when a local dealership donated a car to Jones so he wouldn't have to walk or take the bus home late at night. Both she and Jones were visibly crying when a picture was projected of Jones with his car the day he got it. He was wearing a UVA shirt and had just committed to going there.

"He was so proud," Blount said.

While Blount said she knew Jones' parents "weren't the best role models," she said you wouldn't know it, because he was always trying to help others.

She said Jones took up public speaking, once speaking to the Board of Supervisors regarding school funding and a group of over 200 superintendents for public schools from across the state at a conference.

Blount said she and Jones talked two or three times between his high school graduation in 2018 and the shooting in 2022.

She described the morning after the shooting, when she woke up and saw Jones' picture on television. At first, she thought he was a victim -- and she was "speechless" when she learned he was the shooter.

"I know that in his heart he is a good human being, and I know his situation changed," she said.

Witness Four

The fourth witness called to the stand was Xavier Richardson, a mentor of many years for Jones. The two met in the fall of Jones' senior year of high school.

Richardson was impressed by Jones' academic drive, and even took him on trips to tour colleges. He said Jones would sometimes get emotional about everything Richardson did for him, but would be simultaneously frustrated that his parents weren't the ones doing it.

Richardson testified that Jones was determined to earn his college degree and "make his grandmother proud."

Richardson attended Jones' high school graduation, where the only family member who went was Granny Mary.

In a confusing exchange between the Commonwealth and Richardson, it sounded as though Richardson interpreted that Jones' aunt, Clarke, Jr.'s mother, died in front of him in some sort of vehicle collision. She actually died when he was 3-and-a-half-years-old due to a heart condition.

Richardson continued mentoring Jones as he transitioned into UVA. Richardson said he was basically a "stand-in parent." He took Jones to orientation and ensured he got moved into his dorm alright and had his financial aid straightened out. He also took him to appointments for knee issues that ultimately halted his football career.

Richardson said one of his proudest moments of Jones was when he pledged the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Richardson was also a member.

Richardson was asked by the Commonwealth if he knew Jones was hit with a concealed weapon charge in Chesterfield County. Richardson told the court he had a zero-tolerance policy for the young men he mentors having guns. Jones had also gotten into a hit-and-run accident in Henrico County, hitting a utility pole after fleeing the scene.

"I feel as though I'm more on trial -- and I'm supposed to be a character witness," Richardson said to the prosecution during their questioning.

He said he and Jones met up in person around once or twice a month, but communicated much more regularly by phone.

Richardson said Jones sent him a "strange message" the day of the shooting. He told Jones to call him, but he never did. These texts were presented to the court on day one. They read “Tonight I’m either going to hell or jail,” and “I’m not fighting or leaving my life to chance to five guys."

Richardson was then woken up in the middle of the night, a few hours after the shooting, and he saw on the news that authorities were searching for Jones.

Richardson said he was not aware of the additional firearms and accessories, including an AR-15, that were found in Jones's room following the shooting. He said he never heard Jones talk about the three men who died.

"I know him well enough to know he has remorse," he said, followed by groans from members of the audience.

Richardson said he plans to continue mentoring him in prison.

"I'm 68 [years old]," he said. "I'm going to do it as long as I can."

Witness Five

The fifth witness of the day was Scott Johnson. Johnson met Jones through the Kappa League mentorship program, an initiative through Kappa Alpha Psi for young men in grades 6 through 12.

Johnson said Jones was brought out of his shell through sports. He knew Jones had a tough home life, but said he loved his grandmother.

An injury kept Jones from playing several football games his senior year of high school, but Johnson encouraged Jones to keep his head up and focus on his academics. He said he told him the same thing when Jones was at UVA and his football career came to an end after one season.

He said Jones expressed feelings that UVA wasn't the best fit for him at times, but he didn't say why.

Johnson said he went to two court appearances with Jones for his charges in Chesterfield and Henrico. He noticed Jones was "agitated" in August 2022, but assumed it was because of his legal troubles.

Johnson said Jones tried to get in touch with him on the day of the shooting, but wasn't able to. Johnson said he called him 20 times after he learned what happened.

Johnson said that, since the shooting, the Kappa League has begun to have mental health evaluations for every member ahead of every session. If any members show signs of needing mental health assistance, they have a physician they can call and they can refer them to a doctor.

Witness 6

The sixth witness of the day was Shaka Syndor. He was the Assistant Dean of Students when Jones began his first year at UVA. Their introduction was made by Xavier Richardson.

Syndor said part of his job was to support first-generation students, but he left the role to work for a different school in February 2022.

Syndor created the Hoos First program for first-gen students in 2016. He said the program has grown and now has more resources for students than it did when Jones was there.

Syndor said he talked to Jones about his goals after he was no longer on the football team and said he didn't seem angry about it. He said he was always "respectful" when they interacted.

Syndor said he was made aware of a police report in 2019 involving an incident between students at a location off-campus. He said Jones told him a group of people started shoving and fighting, and as he was turning to leave, someone cut him above the eye. Jones received medical attention for the cut, with Syndor describing it as a "pretty significant injury." Jones told Syndor later on that he was not interested in pressing charges.

Jones told Syndor he knew who'd cut him, but didn't disclose who. It was not anyone involved with the shooting.

Prosecution asked Syndor if he knew about an "outburst" in one of Jones's classes, which he did. Jones reportedly shared something about his life, another student laughed and Jones charged at him. The professor had to get between the and another student then had to restrain Jones.

Syndor said he reached out to talk to Jones about this, but he was leaving for summer break and had already apologized to the student and professor.

While Syndor was no longer working at UVA at the time of the shooting, he still received text alerts and he saw them the next morning. He talked to Richardson, who told him what happened. Syndor said he texted Jones and encouraged him to turn himself in.

Syndor said Jones had told him about football players picking on him when he was on the team, but didn't say names. The three players Jones killed were never on the team at the same time as him.

Witness 7

The final witness of the day was Silas Hardison II, a fraternity brother of Jones's.

Due to 8News evening shows, a reporter was not in the courtroom for this testimony.

Testimonies will continue on Thursday, Nov. 20.