Pitt’s Narduzzi shocked by ‘unthinkable’ deaths

As he approached the podium to address the media Monday afternoon for his news conference to start the week, University of Pittsburgh head football coach Pat Narduzzi was missing his traditional smile that he normally carries following a weekend victory.

Instead, the eighth-year head coach entered a room filled with reporters with a somber demeanor, visibly shaken from the recent news that took place on a college campus he and his team just visited.

Reports surfaced early Monday morning that three students were killed in a campus shooting at the University of Virginia. The shooting occurred just after 10:15 p.m. Sunday evening on a charter bus filled with UVA students that had just returned to campus after taking a field trip to Washington, D.C., for a class.

As information continued to develop, it was announced that all three of the victims who lost their lives were members of the Cavaliers football program, the team Pitt defeated, 37-7, on Saturday

afternoon in Charlottesville. Instead of recapping Saturday’s win or previewing his team’s upcoming matchup against Duke, the majority of Mr. Narduzzi’s press conference was centered around the tragedy.

“I’m shocked, obviously,” Mr. Narduzzi said in his opening remarks. “I don’t even care to talk about that game. We can just kind of put it aside — I’ll answer any questions on it afterward if I have to. Our hearts and our prayers go out to the city of [Charlottesville], the University of Virginia, coach Tony Elliott and his football team that’s got to be going through it right now. I can’t imagine losing three guys in the room here.

“I can’t even imagine what’s going on down there,” Mr. Narduzzi continued. “It’s unthinkable — you go from playing a football game to that. Again, our prayers go out to everyone down there that’s involved in this. It’s sad.”

The three football players who lost their lives in the shooting were D’Sean Perry, Lavel Davis Jr. and Devin Chandler. Mr. Perry, a junior linebacker, played against the Panthers, tallying two tackles, while Mr. Davis and Mr. Chandler — both junior receivers — missed the contest due to injuries.

Mr. Narduzzi said he had a conversation with one of the three victims, Mr. Davis, who was an NFL prospect, just moments after the contest ended Saturday afternoon.

“I remember seeing him after the game, shaking his hand and telling him, ‘Hey, get healthy,’” Mr. Narduzzi said.

Two others were reportedly injured in the shooting. University of Virginia President Jim Ryan said during a news conference Monday morning that one of the victims was listed in good condition while the other was listed in critical condition.

Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., a former walk-on football player at the University of Virginia, has been identified as the suspect in the shooting incident. University of Virginia police Chief Tim Longo said Mr. Jones had been arrested and charged with three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of using a handgun in the commission of a felony.

At the time of his news conference, Mr. Narduzzi said he hadn’t spoken to his team about the shooting due to Monday being an off day. When asked what he plans to say when it comes time to address them, the head coach simply replied, “I don’t know,” with a desolate look on his face.

“You think about what the Virginia football team is going through, you know, that’s a brother in that room,” Mr. Narduzzi said. “That’s just horrible. I can’t even fathom what those poor kids are going through.”