Shot 7 people at Richmond high school graduation

Seven people were shot and several were injured in a shooting that occurred Tuesday night outside a high school graduation ceremony in Richmond, Virginia, authorities said.

The shooting occurred just before 5:15 p.m. outside the Altria Theater, Rick Edwards, the acting chief of the Richmond Police Department, said at a news conference Tuesday evening. He said officers heard gunshots in the room and went to the scene, where they found “several victims with gunshot wounds.”

Three of those shot suffered life-threatening injuries, Chief Edwards said. Authorities did not discuss a possible motive or whether the shooting was related to the graduation.

Several other people, he said, had gone to local hospitals with injuries other than gunshot wounds, including one person who was “hit by a car during the fight.”

Two people were taken into custody, Chief Edwards said. Authorities did not believe there was an “ongoing threat to the community,” he said.

Matthew Stanley, a spokesman for Richmond Public Schools, confirmed that the shooting took place in Monroe Park, adjacent to the Altria Theater, right after a graduation ceremony for Huguenot High School students. Another ceremony scheduled for Tuesday evening was canceled, he said.

Jonathan Young, a member of the Richmond City School Board, said he and his colleagues had just finished celebrating some 300 graduating students when he heard about 20 consecutive gunshots that caused “a crazy rush to get back into the building.” come”.

Medical workers and police officers quickly arrived at the scene, he said, adding that he had seen many people who appeared to have been injured in what he described as a “stamp.” Mr Young said his shock quickly turned to “disgust and anger”.

A statement posted on the Richmond Public Schools website on Tuesday evening addressed families and staff members and said that “after Huguenot High School’s graduation ceremony, a shooting occurred outside in Monroe Park.” The message said all public schools in the city would close on Wednesday as a precaution.

“I’m just tired of seeing people get shot,” Jason Kamras, the superintendent of Richmond Public Schools, said at the news conference. “Our children are being shot and I’m begging the entire community to stop.”

“Our kids can’t stand it,” Mr. Kamras said. “Our teachers can’t stand it. Our families can’t take it anymore. I beg you to stop.”