University of Virginia football players Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr and D’Sean Perry were shot dead on Sunday evening (Picture: Reuters)

Three university students killed in a mass shooting on campus were all members of the same football team.

Suspected gunman Christopher Darnell Jones Jr, 22, was also on the University of Virginia team and was arrested after a 12-hour manhunt.

Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr and D’Sean Perry have now been identified as the victims. Two other students were wounded in the attack and rushed to hospital.

The gunman opened fire on a group who had just returned to campus after seeing a play late on Sunday.

It set off panic across the university as students spent hours hiding in closets, dorm rooms and libraries, while police hunted the attacker.

They listened to police scanners and tried to remember everything they were taught at school during active-shooter drills.

Student Charlotte Goeb immediately checked her doors and shut off the lights after getting an alert from the school.

‘I’m having a hard time coming to terms that this happened,’ she said. ‘Even though you spend all of your upbringing knowing this can happen.’

Christopher Darnell Jones Jr was arrested and charged with three counts of murder (Picture: AP)

Students held a candlelight vigil for the shooting victims (Picture: AP)

University President Jim Ryan said they did not have a ‘full understanding’ of the gunman’s motive, adding: ‘The entire university community is grieving.’

The suspect’s father, Chris Jones Sr, told local media he was in disbelief after getting a call from police.

‘My heart goes out to their families,’ he said. ‘I don’t know what to say, except I’m sorry, on his behalf, and I apologise.’

His son was taken into custody without incident and charged with three counts of murder.

University Police Chief Timothy Longo said Jones used to be on the football team and had been involved in a ‘hazing’ investigation, which was closed when witnesses failed to cooperate.

Police spent 12 hours looking for the suspect as students hid in their rooms (Picture: AP)

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Jones recently came to the attention of the university’s threat-assessment team after someone reported a remark he apparently made about possessing a gun.

Football coach Tony Elliott said the victims ‘were all good kids’.

‘These precious young men were called away too soon,’ he added.

The US remains on edge following a string of horrific mass shootings this year, including an attack on a school in Uvalde, Texas, which left 19 students and two teachers dead.

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Suspected gunman Christopher Darnell Jones, 22, was arrested by police after a 12-hour manhunt.