Travel & Experiences · 4 Beginner · August 16, 2026
Shooting at Virginia State University
Photo: Wikimedia Commons via Wikimedia Commons
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Vocabulary
shooting/ˈʃuːtɪŋ/noun
when someone uses a gun and it makes bullets come out
The shooting happened early in the morning.
suspect/səˈspɛkt/noun
a person who police think did a bad thing
Police are looking for three suspects.
residence hall/ˈrɛzɪdəns hɔːl/noun
a building at a school where students sleep and live
Many students live in the residence hall.
hurt/hɜːrt/verb
to have pain in your body because of an accident or violence
Five people were hurt in the shooting.
police/pəˈliːs/noun
people whose job is to keep people safe and stop bad things
The police came to help very fast.
at large/æt lɑːrdʒ/phrase
not caught or found by police; still free
The suspects are still at large.
Article
A shooting happened at Virginia State University. Five people were hurt. This happened early on Saturday morning. Police are looking for the people who did this.
What Happened
The shooting happened outside a building where students live. It was very early in the morning at 1:28 AM. Police came to help very fast.
Five People Were Hurt
Five people got hurt in the shooting. We do not know who they are yet. Doctors are helping them at the hospital.
Police Are Looking
The police want to find the people who did this. These people are not in jail yet. Police ask people to call them if they see anything.
Safety at School
Students feel scared now. The school wants to help them feel safe. Police will work hard to find the people who did this bad thing.
What We Know Now
The police have many questions. They need help from people in the city. If you know anything, you can call the police.
Discussion Questions
Have you ever felt scared? What made you feel that way?
What do you do when you feel scared or unsafe?
Why do you think it is important for police to find people who do bad things?
How can students feel safer at school?
If you saw something bad happen, would you call the police? Why or why not?