Witnesses have told of the horrifying moment when a gunman opened fire before a high school graduation in Virginia, killing a 36-year-old father and his 18-year-old son.
Seven were shot dead in the Monroe Park shooting after a ceremony at Huguenot High School on Tuesday, including the two who died, who are not named.
Crime scene footage showed the chaotic moment when a gunman opened fire outside the Altria Theater and escorted students in graduation gowns to safety.
It was later confirmed that the 18-year-old who died in the shooting was one of the graduates. A motive for the attack remains unclear.
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney told a press conference, “Is nothing sacred anymore?” “A child should be able to go to their graduation, walk at graduation and enjoy the achievement with their friends and families .”
A 19-year-old was taken into custody and charged with two counts of second-degree murder. Police said he “knew at least one of the victims.”
Officials have hinted that the incident could be “gang related” and called for the criminal justice system to crack down on those who commit crimes.
Witnesses told the horrifying moment when a gunman opened fire before a high school graduation in Virginia, killing a 36-year-old father and his 18-year-old son – one said it sounded like “fireworks” going off
The picture shows scenes before the shooting at the graduation ceremony in Virginia
Pictures and video from the crime scene showed several police officers securing the area with police tape while police warned people to “avoid the area” while students cried after the attack, which Edwards described as “disgusting”.
A heavy police presence remained at the scene in Monroe Park following the attack, which police first reported at 5:13 p.m. local time.
A 31-year-old shooting victim remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, police said.
Four victims of the shooting, a 14-year-old man, a 32-year-old man, a 55-year-old man and a 58-year-old man, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
A nine-year-old child who was hit by a car during the chaos was also taken to hospital but is expected to survive.
Witnesses also reported on their experiences.
Speaking to NBC12, Jason Alexander said he was just 10 feet from the crossfire when hundreds of people started looking for cover.
“We’re just waiting for my son to come out,” Alexander said.
“Behind us we’re probably about ten feet behind us.” “We heard firecrackers.”
Previous reports and video from the scene indicated the gunman fired about 20 shots.
Alexander said he heard less as he maneuvered the chaotic scene before him.
“Everyone started running and I pushed them to the ground and we landed on the ground and it was chaos from there,” he said.
“You just kept hearing gunshots. It was only eight, nine, ten shots.”
Alexander’s sister, Robin Spencer, was emotional, wiping tears as she spoke of her disbelief to the broadcaster.
“Who the hell would do that at these kids’ graduation?” said Spencer. “There are lots of children. “People walk around with babies.”
Thomas Sones, a teacher at Richmond Public Schools, said he found shelter quickly.
“Just as I got to the back corner, I heard about ten shots being fired, so the people standing at the back of the theater went down the back stairs and the theater security immediately locked the back door. “It’s just very sad,” he said.
Families and friends of graduates, as well as bystanders, were seen hugging and weeping at the grisly scene before them
Previous reports and video from the scene indicated the gunman fired about 20 shots, but some witnesses only recall hearing 10 shots
Families and friends of graduates, as well as bystanders, were seen hugging and weeping at the grisly scene before them.
Jeremy Evans told NBC12 that his daughter sang at the graduation ceremony and that one of her friends was among those injured in the hail of bullets.
“I look at this scenario as if we should be happy about people graduating,” Evans said.
“We’re supposed to support each other, hug each other, love each other, and then there will be a shootout.” Come on now. I just think it’s bad. We have to do better.
“I’m just praying for everyone who has been hurt and for the families of the victims or whatever the case may be, but it has to stop.”
In the hours after the tragedy, video circulated of the moments before the incident, in which two people died and seven were injured and hospitalized.
Footage uploaded to Facebook shows students from Huguenot High School beaming as they hug their families after the ceremony.
Moments later, the person filming the happy students revealed the chaos as hundreds ducked for cover as gunshots rang out.
The shooter cannot be seen on the video, but about 20 shots can be heard from the off.
Horrifying footage revealed the moment a gunman opened fire at a Virginia high school graduation as students ducked for cover in the mass shooting
Moments later, the person filming the happy students revealed the chaos as hundreds ducked for cover as gunshots rang out
In a briefing just after 9 p.m. Tuesday, Richmond Interim Police Commissioner Rick Edwards said several handguns were recovered from the scene.
Earlier reports said bystanders had heard more than “20 bangs,” prompting “hundreds” to seek cover when the gunman opened fire outside Richmond’s Altria Theater just after 5pm on Tuesday afternoon.
The police initially took two people into custody after the shooting, but only one person was identified as a suspect in the shooting. The other was released.
“I just want to express my concern and sympathy for those who lost their lives today and whose lives have been changed forever,” Edwards said.
“This should have been a safe place. It is incredibly tragic that someone brought a gun there and terrified those people.”
Three graduations were scheduled to take place at the theater on Virginia Commonwealth University’s campus on Tuesday.
VCU Police issued an alert at 5:15 p.m. about a shooting in or around Monroe Park.
Police took two people into custody after the fatal Virginia shooting – but arrested a 19-year-old gunman who is said to be “known to one of the victims”.
The shooter cannot be seen on the video, but about 20 shots can be heard from the off. Earlier reports said the same thing – but according to witnesses, they only heard 10 shots in the chaos
Edwards revealed that officers were already at the scene when the mass shooting began and alerted the police to the horrifying incident.
“It’s definitely traumatic for her, you could hear the chaos and the screams,” Edwards said.
At the time of the incident, school board member Jonathan Young told 8News that there had been “several casualties” at the Huguenot High School’s ceremony, which was scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
He said CBS 6: “We immediately heard a series of probably 20 loud pops in a row.”
“And of course that caused a lot of people, probably a few 100 people, to rush back into the Altria… controlled chaos.”
Hearing the gunshots and then the sirens, neighbor John Willard, 69, stepped onto the balcony of his 18th-floor apartment to see what was happening below, according to the Associated Press.
He saw students flee in their graduation outfits and parents hugged their children.
“There was a poor woman standing outside the block of flats next to ours, crying and crying,” Willard said, adding that he was deeply saddened by the scene.
Edythe Payne helped her daughter sell flowers to students outside the theater as they left the ceremony.
She told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that the shooting sparked a panic on nearby Main Street, which was packed with people at the time.
“I felt bad because some older people were at the graduation ceremony and they were thrown to the ground,” Payne said.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said on Facebook, “My administration continues to monitor the horrific shooting in the heart of Richmond tonight.”
Two men, 18 and 36, were shot dead in a mass shooting at a Virginia high school graduation while seven remain hospitalized
Pictures and videos from the crime scene show several police forces securing the area. People have been advised to avoid the area
“State law enforcement fully supports the Richmond Police Department as this investigation proceeds.”
Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney posted a statement on Twitter regarding the situation.
“I’m currently monitoring the situation at Monroe Park.” In touch with RPD and RPS. “Will provide information as it is received. Please avoid the area,” Stoney’s tweet said.
He told CBS 6, “There were kids involved here … today is their graduation day.”
“The question that’s on my mind right now is, ‘Is nothing sacred anymore?’ Is nothing sacred anymore?’
“A child should be able to go to their graduation, walk out of graduation, and enjoy the success with their friends and their families.”
“It’s a selfish act.” It’s a senseless act. And for me it is cowardice.’
Richmond Police tweeted, “RPD is at the scene regarding a shooting at Laurel Street and Franklin Street.” Multiple injuries reported.
“There is no immediate danger to the public.” Briefing follows. Avoid the area.’
Richmond Public Schools will be closed tomorrow due to the shooting.
“Let this be a joyous day as our children take the stage and receive their diplomas. “That’s what they all did here today for Huguenots and walked out the door into the arms of their families and friends and took pictures,” Richmond Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras said at a 7pm briefing.
“Then this tragedy happened. I’m at a loss for more words. I’m sick of seeing people get shot. Our children will be shot. And I’m begging the entire community to stop, just stop.
It is believed that “children were taking graduation photos” when the gunman opened fire
Three schools were scheduled to hold their graduation ceremonies at the Altria Theater on Tuesday when VCU’s alarm went out at 5:15 p.m
“Our children can’t take it.” Our teachers can’t take it. Our families can’t take it anymore. I beg you to stop.’
Virginia Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears said gun violence in Richmond was not about law-abiding gun owners, it was about gangs – and called for the criminal justice system to be tougher on those who commit crimes.
“Even if you took all the guns off the street for the law-abiding citizens, the others who want to harm, kill, and wreak havoc, they will have the guns,” she said at an earlier 7 p.m. briefing.
“So we have to find out what’s going on in our communities.” “We have to find the right problem so that we can come to the right solution.”