Virginia Police Report: 2 killed, 5 others injured in shooting outside high school graduation venue

Two people were killed, and five others were injured when a shooter opened fire outside of a high school graduation ceremony in Richmond, Virginia, on Tuesday evening, according to the city’s interim police chief.

Other people were hurt while attempting to flee the gunfire around Richmond’s Monroe Park, including a 9-year-old girl who was hit by a car, Richmond Interim Police Chief Rick Edwards told reporters.

Two people were initially detained by police, but one was later released, as according to the police, he was not involved.

Police will recommend two counts of second-degree murder against the other, a 19-year-old who was detained and had four handguns and whom investigators believe may have known one of the victims, Edwards said.

An 18-year-old student who graduated on Tuesday and a 36-year-old man who was present at the ceremony at a theater nearby were both killed.

Along with the two people who were killed, five other people were shot, including a 14-year-old boy and four men who ranged in age from 31 to 58. According to Edwards, four of those injured had non-life-threatening wounds.

Edwards stated that the 9-year-old who was hit by a car was being treated for non-life-threatening wounds at a hospital.

Just before 5:15 p.m., three off-duty police officers who were working security at the ceremony heard gunshots outside.

According to the interim police chief, they radioed a call of shots fired and other officers on traffic duty responded.

The suspect tried to flee the scene but was caught up with and detained by VCU police.

“Is nothing sacred any longer? Is nothing sacred any longer?” Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney said at the first news conference.

For the sake of the city as well as the families involved, the mayor vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice.

Jason Kamras, superintendent of Richmond Public Schools, said that the graduation ceremony had ended and that graduates were outside taking pictures with their families when the shooting occurred.

At that time, the park was crowded with hundreds of people, according to Edwards.

“I don’t have any more words on this. I’m just tired of seeing people get shot, our kids get shot. And I beg of the entire community to stop”, Kamras said.

Source-CNN