Slain Bridgewater College Officers To Return Home In Police Procession

BRIDGEWATER, VA — Law enforcement personnel will be holding a procession starting at 2 p.m. Thursday on Interstate 81 in Virginia to bring the bodies of two Bridgewater College officers who were shot and killed on Tuesday back home.

The bodies of Bridgewater College Police Officer John E. Painter, 55, and Bridgewater College Campus Safety Officer Vashon A. “JJ” Jefferson, 48, will be returning to Bridgewater from Roanoke.

The bodies of the two officers were taken to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Roanoke following their fatal shootings on Tuesday.

"These officers were close friends, known to many of us as the 'dynamic duo.' John was J.J.’s best man in his wedding this year. They were beloved by students, faculty and staff. I hurt for their families and loved ones, as I know we all do," Bridgewater College President David Bushman said in a statement Tuesday.

The suspect, Alexander Wyatt Campbell, 27, was taken into custody Tuesday in connection with the fatal shootings near Bridgewater College's Memorial Hall, an incident that sparked a three-hour campuswide lockdown, Virginia State Police said.

Campbell of Ashland, Virginia was charged with two felony counts of capital murder, one felony count of first-degree murder, and one count of the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, according to state police.

"No additional details related to motive, circumstances of the interaction between Campbell and the officers, or any evidence collected during the course of the investigation will be released at this time," the Virginia State Police said in a statement Thursday morning.

Campbell was a student at Bridgewater College from 2013 to 2017 where he ran cross country and track, according to reports.

A GoFundMe account has been set up by Bridgewater College alumni to cover the cost of funerals and memorials for the two officers. More than $100,000 had been raised by 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, exceeding the goal of $50,000.

"While we have exceeded our original goal, we want to assure everyone who has made a contribution and those who are still considering making one that every cent available will go to the Jefferson and Painter families," the Bridgewater College alumni said. "Funds are not lost or refunded because they were donated after the goal was reached. Those funds will still reach their destination."