CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — A person is in critical condition following a stabbing near the University of Virginia’s (UVA) Alumni Hall on Thursday, February 27, prompting a campus-wide lockdown as police searched for a suspect reportedly armed with a knife.
The incident occurred just before 4:40 p.m. when the UVA Police Division received a report of a stabbing near 100 Emmet St. S, across from the university’s Alumni Hall. Authorities confirmed that one person was injured in the attack and was immediately transported to a local hospital in critical condition.
At approximately 4:50 p.m., the UVA Police issued an emergency alert on X (formerly Twitter), warning of an “active attacker with knife” in the area. As a precaution, the university ordered a shelter-in-place for the campus community while law enforcement initiated a search for the suspect.
The lockdown lasted roughly one hour before being lifted at 5:44 p.m. Police later confirmed that the suspect had been detained. The individual, described only as a middle-aged man, was not affiliated with the university, and neither the suspect nor the victim were known to have any connection to UVA.
The Charlottesville Police Department has assumed responsibility for the investigation, as the stabbing took place within its jurisdiction. At the time of reporting, authorities had not provided further details on the motive or the relationship between the victim and the suspect.
This incident marks the second shelter-in-place order at UVA this week. On Tuesday, February 25, the university issued a similar order after Virginia State Police reported a suspect evading a traffic stop, which led to a multi-vehicle crash, including a collision with a state police vehicle.
As the investigation into Thursday’s stabbing continues, officials have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any relevant information to law enforcement.
This incident has raised concerns over safety on and around the university campus, with many hoping for answers regarding both the motive behind the attack and the circumstances that led to the suspect’s detainment.
