Seven people shot in mass shooting at Virginia high school graduation ceremony

Seven people were shot — three with life-threatening injuries — at a Virginia high school graduation ceremony.

Two people have been arrested, but it remains unclear how many shooters were active, who the victims are and whether the incident was targeted.

Local reports claim bystanders heard “20 blasts,” prompting the “hundreds” of attendees to take shelter from the hail of bullets as police flooded Richmond’s Altria Theater just after 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Footage and video from the crime scene show multiple law enforcement officers securing the area with police tape, while authorities warned people to “avoid the area,” as students cried after the vicious attack.

Multiple people reportedly shot at a Virginia high school graduation, with police warning the shooter is still active

said school board member Jonathan Young 8News that there were “multiple injuries” at the Huguenot High School ceremony that was scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

He told CBS6: ‘We immediately heard a series of probably 20 loud bangs in a row.

“And that of course led a lot of people, probably a few hundred people, to run back into the Altria… controlled chaos.”

Hearing the gunshots and then the sirens, neighbor John Willard, 69, stepped onto the balcony of his 18th-floor apartment to see what was happening below, according to Associated Press.

He saw students flee in their graduation outfits and parents hugging children.

“There was a poor woman in front of the apartment building next to ours who was wailing and crying,” Willard said, adding that the scene left him deeply saddened.

Edythe Payne helped her daughter sell flowers to students outside the theater as they left the ceremony.

She told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that the shooting caused panic on nearby Main Street, which was packed with people at the time.

“I felt bad because some of the older people were at the graduation and they were knocked to the ground,” Payne said.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin said on Facebook, “My administration continues to monitor the horrific shooting in the heart of Richmond tonight.

“State law enforcement officers are fully assisting the Richmond Police Department as this investigation progresses.”

Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney released a statement on Twitter about the situation.

“Currently monitoring the situation in Monroe Park. In contact with RPD and RPS. Will make information available as it comes in. Please avoid the area,” Stoney’s tweet read.

He told CBS 6, “There were kids involved in this… this is their graduation day.

“The question that comes to my mind now is: Is nothing sacred anymore? Is nothing sacred anymore?’

It is believed that “kids were taking graduation photos” when the gunman opened fire

Footage and video from the crime scene show multiple law enforcement officers securing the area. People were advised to avoid the area

“A child should be able to go to their graduation and walk out of graduation and enjoy the achievement with their friends and family.

“It’s a selfish act. It’s a pointless action. And to me it’s cowardice.’

Richmond Police Department tweeted, “RPD is on the scene for a shooting on Laurel Street and Franklin Street. Multiple injuries reported.

“There is no immediate threat to the public. Briefing follows. Avoid the area.’

Richmond public schools are closed tomorrow after the shooting incident.

Three schools were scheduled to hold graduations at the Altria Theater on Tuesday when VCU’s alarm went off at 5:15 p.m.

Interim Chief Rick Edwards, Mayor Lever Stoney and Superintendent Jason Kamras will hold a press briefing at 9 p.m.

During an earlier briefing, Edwards also confirmed that two people were injured in falls, 1 person was hit by a car and three people were themselves transported to hospital out of fear.

DailyMail.com has contacted the Richmond Police Department, VCU and Huguenot High School for comment.

This is an evolving story.