Students

Suspect in Virginia State University Stabbing Turns Himself In

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A Virginia State University student wanted in last week's stabbing of another student on campus turned himself into authorities on Tuesday.

Kemal Jackson-Hinton, a 22-year-old English major from Fort Washington, Md., has been charged in Chesterfield County with aggravated assault, the Richmond-Times Dispatch reported.

Jackson-Hiton turned himself in after a warrant was issued for his arrest on Oct. 17.

Thom Reed, a spokesperson for VSU told the Richmond Times-Dispatch he believes the suspect was identified to police by witnesses. He added that video footage that "purported to show the stabbing" has been circulating on social media.

Reed told the Times-Dispatch he believes the victim, who has not been identified, was stabbed in the leg on campus in Ettrick during one of the several fights that broke out Oct. 16. He was treated at a hospital and released.

The stabbing occurred about 5:45 p.m. on University Avenue during a homecoming student bazaar.

The Petersburg Bureau of Police, the Petersburg Sheriff's Department, Virginia State Police, the Chesterfield County Police Department and the Colonial Heights Police Department assisted campus police in the incident.

The lockdown was instituted after a series of fights erupted following the stabbing Wednesday night. The lockdown was lifted at 7 a.m. the next morning. No motive for the fight has been released by authorities. Some students feared homecoming would be canceled after this violent incident and the campus lockdown.

VSU had its homecoming on Oct. 19. The event showed a dramatically different side of VSU than was portrayed Wednesday evening. Junior Tobias Estes told the Progress-Index the ball showed the university's true colors.

He said the stabbing "was just an isolated incident that usually doesn't happen."

Reed said there was additional security and police presence during the rest of this week's homecoming activities.

Jackson-Hinton's next court date is Dec. 16

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