Yesterday a gunman opened fire and killed two campus officers, John Painter and J.J. Jefferson, at Bridgewater College in Virginia. A lockdown and search was instituted early afternoon before police apprehended the suspect.
The Center for Policing Equity sends our deepest condolences to the families of the fallen campus officers, all those on campus, and the larger Bridgwater community. We are saddened by the heartbreaking loss of life and trauma facing the community. A school campus should be a place of learning and refuge, not violence.
This tragic event is part of a recent uptick in shootings targeting police officers across the nation. Violence is never appropriate no matter who is involved. At CPE, we remain steadfast in our commitment to building safer, healthier, more equitable communities for everyone–from the most disproportionately impacted community members to those who serve in law enforcement.