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| Illustration. (Getty Images via AFP/SETH HERALD) |
At least seven people were injured in a shooting near the Huguenot High School graduation ceremony at the Altria Theater in Richmond, Virginia, USA on Tuesday evening. According to Interim Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards, three of the seven victims are in critical condition. He also confirmed that two suspects, who are not students at the high school, have been apprehended by the police.
Matthew Stanley, a Richmond Public Schools official, said the shooting occurred at Monroe Park in Richmond shortly after the Huguenot High School graduation ceremony at the Altria Theater. The park is located on the Virginia Commonwealth University campus, across the street from the theater.
Meanwhile, Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras stated that the Huguenot High School graduation celebration had just ended when the shooting occurred. Many graduates, along with their family members and relatives, were gathered in front of the theater near the scene of the incident.
"I have no words for this. I'm just sick of people getting shot, our kids getting shot," said Kamras.
Three police officers who were on a break heard the sound of gunshots in the park just before 5:15 pm. They immediately called for backup.
Edwards stated that the police quickly arrived at the scene and found seven victims with gunshot wounds. Several others were injured by factors other than gunshots, such as being hit by a car during the chaos that ensued after the shooting.
Richmond Mayor Levar M Stoney pledged to bring the shooter to justice "not just for the families of the victims, but for the city as a whole."
According to CNN, due to the shooting, another high school graduation ceremony scheduled to take place at the same theater after the Huguenot High School ceremony was canceled. Three high schools were set to hold graduation ceremonies at the theater on Tuesday and Wednesday.
