Christopher Jones Jr. -- the ex-University of Virginia football player who's been accused of murdering three current members of the Cavaliers team -- had complained of bullying before the shooting, this according to Jones Jr.'s father.
Christopher Jones Sr. spoke with NBC12 just one day after his son allegedly shot and killed three UVA football players while on a bus on campus ... and he explained, for the most part, his son appeared normal during their last encounter about a month ago "and he was doing real well."
But, he did note that while Jones Jr. had stopped by his house to do laundry, the 22-year-old admitted he was having some issues while at school.
"He had some problems," Jones Sr. said of Jones Jr., a former UVA running back. "The last time I talked to him, he said some people was picking on him or whatever. He didn't know how to handle it. I just told him, 'Go to school. Don't pay them no mind. Do what you got to do.'"
Three UVA Football Players Shot And Killed On Campus, Former RB Named Suspect
Jones Sr. added, "He wouldn't tell me everything."
Jones Jr. allegedly opened fire on a bus full of students after it had returned from a class field trip at around 10:30 PM on Sunday night. According to authorities, the gunfire killed D'Sean Perry, Lavel Davis and Devin Chandler, and wounded two others.
Cops say Jones Jr. then fled the scene ... remaining on the run for about 12 hours -- before he was eventually arrested in Henrico County. He's now facing six charges, including three counts of second-degree murder.
Jones Sr. said he had no clue what could have caused Jones Jr. to pull the trigger.
"What happened?" Jones Sr. said. "Why did it have to get this far? He could have called me."
Jones Sr. then issued an apology on his son's behalf.
On campus, meanwhile, students participated in a candlelight vigil to honor the three who died in the tragedy.
"These were incredible young men with huge aspirations and extremely bright futures," Virginia football head coach Tony Elliott said Monday. "Our hearts ache for their families, their classmates and their friends. These precious young men were called away too soon."