Two people were shot dead and several others injured in a shooting that took place outside a high school graduation ceremony in Richmond, Va., on Tuesday night, authorities said.
Rick Edwards, acting superintendent of the Richmond Police Department, said at a news conference Tuesday night that a 19-year-old male suspect was in police custody. “We think the suspect knows at least one of the victims,” he said.
The shooting took place just before 5:15 p.m. outside the Altria Theatre. He said officers inside the site heard gunshots and went to the scene, where they found “multiple gunshot wounds.”
The two dead were an 18-year-old male and a 36-year-old male, Sheriff Edwards said at a news conference. Authorities have not released the identities of the victims.
Sheriff Edwards said authorities seized four firearms, but one of them was “not related” to Tuesday’s shooting.
Five others were shot and suffered non-life-threatening injuries, he said. Several others, he said, went to the local hospital with non-shot injuries, including one “who was hit by a car during the melee.”
Matthew Stanley, a spokesman for Richmond Public Schools, confirmed that the shooting happened in Monroe Park, adjacent to the Altria Theatre, shortly after the graduation of the Huguenot High School students. Another ceremony scheduled for Tuesday night has been cancelled.
Clips posted on social media appear to show the aftermath of the shooting. On one occasion, paramedics appeared to be performing CPR on a victim. Students still wear gowns and caps. Other regals are scattered on the ground.
Jonathan Young, a member of the Richmond City School Board, said he and his colleagues had just been celebrating the graduation of about 300 students when they heard about 20 consecutive gunshots “which sent him running for water.” frantically retreat to get back inside the building.” He added that emergency medical personnel and police were quickly on the scene, adding that he had seen multiple people who appeared to be injured in what he described as “Stampede”. Mr Young said his shock quickly turned into “disgust and anger”.
A statement posted on the Richmond Public Schools website Tuesday night addressed the families and staff, saying that “after the graduation of Huguenot High School, a shooting took place outside Monroe Park.” The notice said all public schools in the city would be closed on Wednesday as a precautionary measure.
“I’m tired of watching people get shot,” said Jason Kamras, director of Richmond Public Schools. “Our kids were shot, and I beg the entire community to stop.”
“Our kids can’t stand it,” Mr. Kamras said. “Our teachers couldn’t stand it. Our family can’t take it anymore. I beg you to stop.”
