7th June 2023 – (Hong Kong) Two people were killed and five others were wounded in a shooting that occurred after a high school graduation ceremony on Tuesday afternoon in Richmond, Virginia. The shooting took place at around 5.15pm ET in Monroe Park, near the Altria Theater where Huguenot High School‘s graduation ceremony was held, according to Richmond Public Schools official Matthew Stanley.
Two of the seven people who were shot died after being taken to the hospital, according to Rick Edwards, the city’s interim police chief. Two suspects have been taken into custody, and Edwards added that “we think the suspect knew at least one of the victims.”
In response to the shooting, Richmond Public Schools announced that it would close all schools on Wednesday, June 7, and that all high school graduations for the week had been canceled.
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney condemned the shooting at a press conference, stating that “we’re going to do everything we can to bring the individuals who were involved in this to justice. … This should not be happening anywhere.”
The motive for the shooting is not yet known, and the investigation is ongoing. The incident has once again highlighted the issue of gun violence in the United States, which has seen a spate of deadly shootings in recent years, including several at public places, schools and universities.