A TRAGIC Day For Virginia: Gunman Opens Fire After Graduation, Leaving A Trail Of Death And Destruction

Written By BlabberBuzz | Wednesday, 07 June 2023 04:30 PM
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A TRAGIC Day For Virginia: Gunman Opens Fire After Graduation, Leaving A Trail Of Death And Destruction

Two people were killed and five others injured in a shooting near Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) on Tuesday.

The incident occurred at around 5:13 p.m. in Monroe Park, near the campus' Altria Theater, following a graduation ceremony for Huguenot High School. According to VCU police, the victims included an 18-year-old male who had just graduated and a 36-year-old male. The suspect is believed to have known at least one of the victims. Five other individuals sustained injuries of varying degrees, including two people who were treated for falls, one juvenile who was struck by a car, and nine people who were treated at the scene for minor injuries or anxiety.

Police have recovered multiple handguns and have taken a 19-year-old into custody, who will be charged with two counts of second-degree murder. The identities of the victims and the suspect have not been released. Thomas Jefferson High School has canceled its planned graduation ceremony, which will be rescheduled.

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According to school board member Jonathan Young, graduates and other attendees exited the theater when they heard about 20 gunshots in rapid succession. "That prompted, as you would expect, hundreds of persons in an effort to flee the gunfire to return to the building," Young said. "It materialized in a stampede."

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Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney called the shooting "traumatic" for everyone, especially the youth involved. "Is nothing sacred any longer? We're going to do everything we can to bring the individuals who are involved in this to justice. Not just for the families involved, but also the city," Stoney said. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin said his administration was monitoring the "terrible" shooting and that state law enforcement is supporting the Richmond Police Department.

Police have stated that there is no ongoing threat to the community, but a heavy police presence remains at Monroe Park. Richmond police are leading the investigation.

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