A 19-year-old gunman opened fire outside a graduation ceremony in Richmond, Virginia, killing at least two people and wounding five, police said Tuesday.
Interim Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards said at a press conference that the arrested suspect faces two counts of second-degree murder, along with other crimes. The names were not immediately disclosed but the former is said to have graduated on Tuesday.
A 31-year-old victim suffered life-threatening injuries but four other men, ages 14, 32, 55 and 58, had non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
The motive behind the shooting in Richmond, Virginia, was not known, but he said the suspect knew “at least one of the victims.”
Acting Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards had previously said two suspects were in custody, but clarified Tuesday night that one of the two men in custody was not believed to be involved in the shooting. is involved.
school board member Jonathan Young told a Richmond TV station WWBT that graduates and other attendees were exiting the building when they heard 20 gunshots in quick succession.
“It encouraged, as you would expect, hundreds of people running from the bullets trying to get back into the building,” Young said.
“It happened in a stampede,” he said.
Edwards said four handguns were recovered, but at least one belonged to another individual who is not believed to be involved.
“Off-duty officers working security inside the event immediately responded to the scene and located the victims of the shooting,” Edwards said.
“Virginia Commonwealth University security took the suspect into custody after he left the scene,” Edwards said, adding that “no police officers were injured or had their weapons fired during the incident.”
Acting Chief Edwards also noted that several people were treated for various injuries, 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 also emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the community.
A spokesperson for Richmond Public Schools said: “The graduation ceremony will be rescheduled. This incident occurred at the end of Huguenot High School’s graduation and we have canceled the Thomas Jefferson High School graduation scheduled for later tonight. Granted. It will be reset shortly.”
U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan of Virginia’s 4th Congressional District, which includes Richmond, said in a statement, “Tonight’s celebration turned into every parent’s worst nightmare. As the mother of two school-age children, I cannot fathom the deep heartbreak, the sense of loss and the sense of loss. The trauma these families are going through.”
McClellan added, “The epidemic of gun violence is a public health crisis that we must address.