At least two people have been killed and five injured in a shooting at a park in Richmond, southeastern Virginia, where a high school graduation was taking place.
An 18-year-old finalist and a 36-year-old man who attended the ceremony were killed in the attack, Richmond’s acting police chief Rick Edwards said at a news conference Tuesday.
The alleged perpetrator of the attack, who attempted to flee on foot, was apprehended and several firearms were found at the scene, Edwards said. Police believe the 19-year-old attacker knew “at least one” of the fatalities.
The attack caused those attending the ceremony to flee in panic, leaving 12 injured.
Shots were heard around 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday (10:15 p.m. in Lisbon), sending police officers to the ceremony to call for reinforcements, who found several injured outside the theater, Edwards said.
“We will do everything we can to bring those involved to justice. (…) This should not happen anywhere,” said Richmond Mayor L.Eva Stoney at the press conference.
The agency that manages Richmond’s public schools said in a statement that the shooting took place in Monroe Park, a park across the street from the theater and adjacent to the Virginia Commonwealth University campus.
Despite police saying they do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the community, school authorities have decided to cancel another graduation for Tuesday “just in case” and to close all schools today.
Since the beginning of the year, the Gun Violence Archive has recorded 278 mass shootings in the United States, classified as such by the portal when they cause at least four deaths or injuries.
Source: DN
