Weapon offenses rise on Virginia university campuses

By: Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism

Outlets: Virginia Mercury

Published: March 31, 2026

Words: 719

Last Updated: 4 months ago

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By Kunle Falayi/VCIJ

Weapons law violations at Virginia’s colleges and universities have climbed since 2020, driven by cases at Old Dominion University and Virginia Commonwealth University, according to Virginia State Police data.

Violations bottomed out in 2020 as campuses emptied during the COVID-19 pandemic, then rebounded sharply. By the end of 2025, reported weapons violations on Virginia campuses had reached 55, a nearly 40% increase in just five years.

The state police data captures crime …

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