HARRISONBURG, Va. (WINA) – The man who was charged with the murder of two Bridgewater College security guards decided to plead guilty on February 26, 2o24.

Alexander Wyatt Campbell was given two life sentences for the shooting deaths of Bridgewater College Officer John Painter and Campus Safety Officer J.J. Jefferson, who were shot in February of 2022.

The 29-year-old had been in hiding inside the basement of Memorial Hall for four days when someone reported a suspicious person. When Painter and Campbell approached Campbell and asked to see his identification, he pulled out a small handgun and fired shots before running away. He was caught after a chase involving multiple law enforcement agencies.

Campbell was a student at Bridgewater College from 2013 to 2017 and competed on the school’s cross-country team. His trial was originally scheduled to begin in April.