Seven people shot in mass shooting at Virginia high school graduation ceremony leaving three with life-threatening injuries as victims are ‘taken out on stretchers’: Two suspects in custody
- Seven people have been shot – three with life-threatening injuries, as ‘two people are taken into custody’ following a Virginia high school graduation shooting
- Local reports say people were seen ‘being taken out on stretchers’ as police swarmed the Altria Theater on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University
- Three schools were scheduled to have graduation ceremonies at the theater on Tuesday, when VCU sent out the alert at about 5.15pm
Seven people, three of whom have life-threatening injuries, have been shot at a Virginia high school graduation mass shooting.
Two people have been taken into custody, but it remains unclear how many shooters were active, who the victims are and whether the incident was targeted.
Local reports claim bystanders heard ’20 bangs’ causing the ‘hundreds’ in attendance to seek shelter from the spray of bullets as police swarmed the Altria Theater in Richmond just after 5.00pm on Tuesday afternoon.
Images and video from the scene show multiple law enforcement officers securing the area with police tape with authorities warning people to ‘avoid the area’ as students wept following the vicious attack.
Multiple people have been allegedly shot at a high school graduation in Virginia with police warning the shooter is still active
School board member Jonathan Young told 8News that there were ‘multiple injuries’ at the Huguenot High School ceremony scheduled to start at 4pm.
He told CBS 6: ‘We immediately heard a series of probably 20 loud bangs in consecutive order.
‘And that prompted of course a lot of persons, probably a few 100 persons to make a rush back inside the Altria… controlled chaos.’
Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin said on Facebook: ‘My administration continues monitoring the terrible shooting in the heart of Richmond tonight.
‘State law enforcement are fully supporting the Richmond Police Department as this investigation moves forward.’
Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney released a statement on Twitter about the situation.
‘Currently monitoring the situation at Monroe Park. In touch with RPD and RPS. Will make information available as it comes in. Please avoid the area,’ Stoney’s tweet reads.
He told CBS 6: ‘Children were involved here… this is their graduation day.
‘The question that comes to my mind right now is, is nothing sacred any longer? Is nothing sacred any longer?’
It’s believed ‘kids were taking graduation photos’ as the shooter opened fire
Images and video from the scene show multiple law enforcement securing the area. People were advised to avoid the area
‘A child should be able to go to their graduation and walk out the graduation and enjoy the accomplishment with their friends and their families.
‘It’s a selfish act. It’s a senseless act. And to me, it’s cowardice.’
Richmond Police tweeted: ‘RPD is on scene for a shooting located at Laurel Street and Franklin Street. Multiple injuries reported.
‘There is no immediate threat to the public. Briefing to follow. Avoid the area.’
Richmond Public Schools will be closed tomorrow following the shooting incident.
Three schools were scheduled to have graduation ceremonies at the Altria Theater on Tuesday when the alert by VCU went out at 5.15pm.
Interim Chief Rick Edwards, Mayor Lever Stoney and Superintendent Jason Kamras will host a media briefing at 9pm.
At an earlier briefing, Edwards also confirmed two people were injured by falls, 1 person was hit by a car and three people self-transported to hospital for anxiety.
DailyMail.com has contacted Richmond Police, VCU and Huguenot High School for comment.
This is a developing story.
Source: Read Full Article
