Police said two people were killed and five injured on Tuesday during a shooting outside a high school graduation ceremony in Richmond, Virginia. One of the suspects was in custody facing at least two counts of murder.
The dead men were an 18-year-old man and a 36-year-old man. They weren’t immediately identified, but the 18-year-old was scheduled to graduate on Tuesday.
Police said a 31-year-old gunshot victim continued to suffer life-threatening injuries Tuesday night. Four males, ages 14, 32, 55 and 58, sustained injuries not considered life-threatening.
Acting Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards said at a press conference that a 19-year-old suspect is in custody and faces two counts of second-degree murder.
Police did not provide a motive, but said they believed the suspect knew “at least one of the victims”.
At an earlier news conference, Edwards said two suspects were in custody, but clarified on Tuesday night that neither was believed to have been involved in the shooting. Four handguns were recovered, Edwards said, but at least one belonged to the second person, who is not believed to be involved.
Edwards said the graduation party at the Altria Theater, located in Monroe Park on the VCU campus, was abruptly canceled after shots rang out shortly after 5 p.m.
Edwards said earlier Tuesday that off-duty security officers working inside the party immediately responded to the scene and found the shooting victims. Edwards said Virginia Commonwealth University security arrested the suspect after he left the scene.
Edwards said no police officers were injured or fired their weapons during the incident.
A number of people were treated for various injuries, Edwards said, including two people from falls, a 9-year-old girl who was hit by a car during the shooting, and three people who were treated for anxiety. Edwards said the girl was treated at the scene before being taken to a local hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.
Edwards said there is no ongoing threat to the community.
A Richmond Public Schools spokesperson said the graduation ceremony will be rescheduled
“This incident occurred at the end of Huguenot High School graduation and we have canceled the Thomas Jefferson High School graduation scheduled for later tonight. It will be rescheduled soon,” the spokesperson said.
“Tonight’s celebration turned into every parent’s worst nightmare,” US Rep. Jennifer McClellan, who represents Virginia’s 4th congressional district, which includes Richmond, said in a statement. “As a mother of two school-age children, I cannot fathom the profound sense of loss and trauma. suffering from these families.
McClellan added, “The gun violence epidemic is a public health crisis that we must address. We cannot continue to live in fear.”
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