Two people have died and five have been injured in a school graduation shooting in Richmond.
A 19-year-old shooter has been arrested, according to CNN.
– This must not happen. A child should be able to go to their school graduation and be able to enjoy themselves with friends and family, says Mayor Levar Stoney.
Just as students at Huguenot High School in Richmond, Virginia, were about to go on summer vacation, a lone gunman opened fire on hundreds of students, parents and school staff.
Two people died and five were injured, reports say CNN.
One of the victims was an 18-year-old student who just minutes earlier had taken the American equivalent of the student. The second fatality was a 36-year-old bystander.
– I am so tired of seeing people get shot, our children get shot. I ask the whole community to leave, says the school’s superintendent Jason Kamras.
“Selfish and senseless act”
Police were able to quickly arrest two people, but later said only one of them was a suspect in the shooting — a 19-year-old young man.
The suspected shooter, who is believed to have been acquainted with one of the victims, was arrested with four guns. According to the police, the attack must have been aimed at a specific person in the crowd. It could therefore be the 18-year-old student, but the police have not confirmed that.
– A selfish and senseless act. And it’s cowardly, says Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney during a press conference.
The police now suspect him of two counts of murder.
9-year-old girl hit
In addition to the two fatalities, another five people received gunshot wounds. It concerns a 14-year-old boy and four men between the ages of 31 and 58. According to police chief Rick Edwards, one of them has life-threatening injuries.
Among the injured is also a 9-year-old who was hit by a car when the panicked crowd tried to escape from the shots. Nor does she have any life-threatening injuries.
– Children were involved. This is their graduation day. Is nothing sacred anymore? says the mayor.