'Sad And Enraging': Former Wisconsin Football Player Killed In UVA Shooting

MADISON, WI — A former University of Wisconsin football player was killed in Sunday’s shooting at the University of Virginia, according to reports.

Devin Chandler was a junior and a wide receiver, whose smiling face and upbeat attitude made the world brighter for those around him.

“He had a lasting impact on his teammates, even after he left UW, which is a testament to the type of person he was,” Badgers Defensive Coordinator Jim Leonhard said in a statement posted on Twitter. “His personality was infectious and he was a joy to be around.”

Chandler, D’Sean Perry and Lavel Davis Jr. — all members of the UVA football team — were killed late Sunday on a charter bus, according to 10 News, which reported the attack also left two injured. The shooting was not random, 10 News reported, and gunman Chris Jones Jr. shot Chandler while Chandler was asleep, according to 10 News.

Originally from Huntersville, North Carolina, Chandler spent the 2020 and 2021 football seasons at Wisconsin, where he had a 59-yard kickoff return and an 18-yard rush in 2020 against Wake Forest, according to UVA.

In addition to being a skilled football player, Chandler was also a devoted student. UVA professor Jack Hamilton, who teaches American and media studies, recounted how Chandler made a point to come to office hours and eventually declared a major in American studies.

“He was an unbelievably nice person, always a huge smile, really gregarious and funny,” Hamilton tweeted. “One of those people who's just impossible not to like. It is so sad and enraging that he is gone.”