VCU news

To members of the VCU and VCU Health community,

President Rao is traveling and asked that I convey the following message on his behalf. It is with great sadness that we inform the community about the tragic death of a VCU student from gun violence.

Richmond Police report that just after 8 p.m. Monday evening, Cody Woodson, a 20-year-old VCU student from Buckingham, Va., was shot and killed. Police say that Cody was approached along the 400 block of Gilmer Street near the Monroe Park Campus and was fatally shot. Police are working to determine a motive. The suspect was last seen running west.

I know you join us in sending our thoughts and prayers to Cody's family and friends during this difficult time of great loss. The VCU Counseling Center has been alerted and its services are available to any student who needs assistance in dealing with this tragic event. Call 828-6200 for counseling services.

The VCU Police Department has increased patrols in the Carver neighborhood and continues to work closely with the Richmond Police Department. We encourage any member of our community to contact the VCU Police Department’s emergency number at 828-1234 or use the LiveSafe app to report any crime. 

VCU will offer all of its resources to the Richmond Police Department and any other agency to ensure whomever is responsible is apprehended and prosecuted. We will keep our community informed of significant details in the investigation as it continues. 

Sincerely,

Gail Hackett, Ph.D.
Provost and senior vice president for academic affairs