Virginia graduation shooting – updates: Richmond school official recounts victim’s heartbreaking last moments
Seven people shot in incident on Virginia Commonwealth University’s Monroe Park campus on Tuesday afternoon, with Shawn Jackson, 18, and his stepfather Lorenzo Smith, 36, dying of their injuries
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Amari Pollard, the 19-year-old suspect in the gun attack on a high school graduation ceremony in Richmond, Virginia, was arraigned on Wednesday morning and charged with two counts of second-degree murder, according to the Richmond Police Department (RPD).
Seven people were shot in the incident on Virginia Commonwealth University’s Monroe Park campus on Tuesday afternoon, with Shawn Jackson, 18, and his stepfather Lorenzo Smith, 36, dying of their injuries.
“I didn’t know Shawn, but I shook his hand and wished him congratulations about 20 minutes before he died,” Richmond Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras told CNN on Wednesday. “I can’t shake the image of him receiving CPR on the ground, still in his graduation gown.”
The outburst of gunfire caused a stampede as graduates and guests attempted to flee the vicinity, a moment of panic captured in at least one video subsequently posted to Facebook. The Richmond Police Department told The Independent in a statement that detectives have determined the shootings were not a random act but resulted from an ongoing dispute between Mr Pollard and Jackson.
“This should not be happening anywhere,” lamented city mayor Levar Stoney.
“Whether it’s in Richmond, it’s in Virginia, in the United States this should not be happening anywhere. A child should be able to go to their graduation and walk at their graduation and enjoy the accomplishment with their friends and their families.”
Graduations cancelled at Richmond Public Schools following deadly shooting
Richmond Public Schools posted a notice to their website, informing students, families and staff that school would be closed on Wednesday 7 June and high school graduations would be cancelled this week.
“RPS schools and offices are closed today, Wednesday, June 7. All high school graduations this week have also been canceled. RPS will share further updates soon about rescheduling commencement ceremonies,” Richmond Public Schools wrote.
They also extended their condolences to the victims and families of the shooting that left two people dead and five others injured and offered resources for people or children who need to speak with a counselor.
“Additionally, the RBHA Mobile Crisis Unit along with other partners will serve as a support to RPS families and staff. Mental Health Support and Counseling services will be available today from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm at the Huguenot Community Center”.
Richmond Public Schools Superintendent opens up about tragedy
Seven people were shot in the incident on Virginia Commonwealth University’s Monroe Park campus on Tuesday afternoon, with Shawn Jackson, 18, and his stepfather Lorenzo Smith, 36, dying of their injuries.
“I didn’t know Shawn, but I shook his hand and wished him congratulations about 20 minutes before he died,” Jason Kamras told CNN on Wednesday.
“I can’t shake the image of him receiving CPR on the ground, still in his graduation gown.”
Police tracing handgun used in shooting
Rick Edwards, the interim chief of police for Richmond, said authorities would be conducting tracing on the handgun used in the shooting on Tuesday afternoon that killed two people and injured five others.
The handgun was allegedly used by the suspected shooter 19-year-old Amari Ty’Jon Pollard.
However, due to Mr Pollard’s age, he would not have been able to purchase the firearm himself. Mr Edwards said they would be determining where it came from.
Nine-year-old child among those injured
A nine-year-old child who is related to the two fatal victims is among those injured during the Tuesday shooting, CBS reports.
She is recovering at hospital and is expected to survive.
WATCH: 7 shot, at least 2 dead at high school graduation in Richmond
A high school gathered to celebrate graduation. Then two people were killed in America’s latest mass shooting
Two people were killed and five others injured during a shooting after a high school graduation in Richmond, Virginia on Tuesday.
The Independent’s Ariana Baio reports:
Graduation day ruined by gunfire: What we know about the Richmond shooting
Two people were killed and five others injured during a shooting after a high school graduation in Richmond, Virginia on Tuesday. Ariana Baio reports
Police say suspect and victim knew each other and had been disputing
Richmond Police Department interim chief Rick Edwards said in a press conference on Wednesday that the suspect in the high school graduation shooting had a long-running dispute with one of the victims, 18-year-old Shawn Jackson.
“They knew each other, this was a dispute that we’re hearing took place over the course of over a year,” Mr Edwards said.
The suspect, 19-year-old Amari Ty’Jon Pollard, had apparently attended the graduation before getting into an exchange with Jackson.
Mr Edwards said the two had an interaction in which “words were exchanged” that led to the violent attack.
“I wouldn’t say [Mr Pollard] was waiting for [Jackson]. I think there was an interaction and then it appears the suspect went to his car to retrieve the gun and return,” Mr Edwards said.
Five injured, two dead in Richmond, Virginia, gun attack
Five people were shot and two were killed when gunfire rang out Tuesday outside a downtown theater where a high school graduation ceremony had recently concluded, causing attendees to flee in panic, weep and clutch their children, authorities and witnesses reported.
Interim Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards said at a news conference announced an arrest. Amari Pollard, the 19-year-old suspect in the gun attack, was arraigned on Wednesday morning and charged with two counts of second-degree murder.
Officers inside the theater heard gunfire around 5:15 p.m. and radioed to police stationed outside, who found multiple victims, Edwards said.
Witness recounts terror as elderly tried to flee violence
Edythe Payne was helping her daughter sell flowers outside the theater to students as they left the ceremony.
She told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that the shooting caused a panic on nearby Main Street, which was packed with people at the time.
“I felt bad because some elderly people were at the graduation and they got knocked down to the ground,” Payne said.
The school district said a different graduation scheduled for later Tuesday had been canceled “out of an abundance of caution” and that schools would be closed Wednesday.
Step father and son identified as victims killed in Richmond high school graduation shooting
Shawn Jackson, 18, and Lorenzo Smith, 36, were killed during a shooting after a high school graduation in Virginia.
The Independent’s Ariana Baio reports:
Step father and son identified as victims killed in Richmond high school shooting
Shawn Jackson, 18, and Lorenzo Smith, 36, were killed during a shooting after a high school graduation in Virginia