Two dead, five injured in shooting outside Virginia high school graduation ceremony, police say

Two people were killed and five injured when a gunman opened fire on Tuesday night as hundreds stood outside after high school graduation in Richmond, Virginia, the city’s interim police chief said. bottom. Richmond Interim Police Chief Rick Edwards told reporters Tuesday night that there were injuries, including a 9-year-old girl who was hit by a car while trying to escape the shootings. Video Above: Interim Police Chief Rick Edwards Describes Shooting Scene Police initially detained two people but later said one was not involved. The other, a 19-year-old man investigators believe may have known one of the victims and possessed four handguns, was taken into custody Tuesday night and police said he Edwards said he plans to recommend two counts of second-degree murder against him. The deceased were an 18-year-old student who graduated Tuesday and a 36-year-old man who attended a ceremony at a theater near the park. His identity has not been determined. Richmond Public Schools official Matthew Stanley said the shooting occurred in Monroe Park after a Huguenot High School ceremony at the Altria Theatre. The park is located on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University, across from the theater. In addition to the two dead, five others suffered gunshot wounds: a 14-year-old boy and four men between the ages of 31 and 58. Edwards said four of the injuries were non-life-threatening, but the 9-year-old who was hit by the car had non-life-threatening injuries but was being treated in hospital on Tuesday night, Edwards said. said Mr. They were guarding the ceremony, but just before 5:15 p.m. ET, they heard gunshots outside. At a news conference earlier this month, the interim police chief said he had radioed the shooting and that other officers on traffic duty had responded. The suspect fled the scene but was stopped by VCU police and taken into custody. Is nothing sacred anymore? Richmond Mayor Lever M. Stoney said at his first press conference. The mayor promised that anyone involved would be brought to justice “not only for the families of those involved, but also for the city.” Another high school graduation ceremony scheduled for a theater after the Huguenot High School ceremony has been called off, Stanley said. Three school graduations were scheduled for Tuesday at the Altria Theater, according to the school system’s website. Commencements had already ended and graduates were outside taking pictures with their families when the shooting occurred, said Jason Kamrath, Superintendent of Richmond Public Schools. Edwards said there were hundreds of people in the park at the time, and “I have nothing more to say about this,” Kamrath said. “It’s disgusting to see people being shot, children being shot. And please stop the whole community.” A shooting occurred in Monroe Park. About an hour later, the warning page said there were no ongoing threats.

https://www.wgal.com/article/shooting-richmond-virginia-graduation-ceremony/44110481 Two dead, five injured in shooting outside Virginia high school graduation ceremony, police say