A graduation at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond ended in tragedy when a shooting occurred that left two dead and five wounded. According to authorities, the event took place at 5:13 p.m. at the Altia Theater in Monroe Park as several students from Huguenot High School were graduating:
Anyone with information, please call Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000. We will continue to keep you up to date. pic.twitter.com/DM2PTz18Rv
— Richmond Police (@RichmondPolice) June 7, 2023
The shooting led to the death of two people -father and son- one of the young graduating seniors who was only 18 years old and another man of 36, and at least five wounded. One of the injured, a 31-year-old, is in serious condition in the hospital. The other four: males aged 14, 32, 55 and 58, respectively, were also admitted but are stable.
The 19-year-old suspect, named Ameri Ty-John Pollard, was detained by police and is currently in custody. It is known that the young man knew one of the shooting victims and was in possession of a firearm.
Jonathan Young, a school board member, spoke to Richmond's WWBT television and related how the events unfolded. He explained that the graduates and their family members were leaving the theater when approximately twenty shots were heard in succession, unleashing panic among those in attendance: "That prompted, as you would expect, hundreds of persons in an effort to flee the gunfire to return to the building. It materialized in a stampede," he said in statements reported by Fox News.
Richmond's mayor, Democrat Levar Stoney, was quick to lament the event. During a press conference, the mayor assured that the attack was not only "tragic" but also traumatized those attending the graduation: "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."
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney follows up after the Chief Edwards. Stoney says "is nothing scared" in regards to the shooting at a high school graduation. pic.twitter.com/HkEk1HhCbH
— Goad Gatsby (@GoadGatsby) June 6, 2023
Following the shooting, Thomas Jefferson High School canceled its graduation, which was scheduled at the same theatre a few hours later.
