Seven shot and two killed at Virginia high school graduation

Seven radical person been changeable and 2 were killed astatine a shooting that took spot during a precocious schoolhouse graduation ceremonial successful Richmond, Virginia.

The shooting extracurricular the Atria Theater sent students successful graduation gowns moving for safety, US media reports.

School officials accidental the shooting took spot during a ceremonial for the Huguenot High School.

Another graduation scheduled for Tuesday was been postponed and each classes are cancelled connected Wednesday.

The victims who killed were an 18-year-old antheral who was portion of the graduating people and his 36-year-old father, constabulary say. Police person not yet released their identities.

A 19-year-old fishy has been taken into custody, according to Interim Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards. He said that constabulary judge that helium knew astatine slightest 1 of the victims.

Another idiosyncratic was recovered equipped with a handgun and was initially detained, but constabulary present judge helium was not progressive successful the attack.

The shooting took spot successful Monroe Park aft the ceremonial had ended astatine the Virginia Commonwealth University campus.

"Is thing ineffable immoderate longer?" Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney asked astatine a quality conference.

"A kid should beryllium capable to spell their graduation and locomotion astatine their graduation and bask the accomplishment with their friends and families," helium said, calling the shooting a "selfish act".

In an alert sent to students connected Tuesday, the assemblage said that constabulary were connected the country to respond to the shooting.

"There is nary ongoing menace to the assemblage but determination is simply a dense constabulary beingness astatine Monroe Park," the alert said.

Chief Edwards added that 3 off-duty officers were moving wrong the theatre and 7 much were stationed extracurricular to nonstop postulation erstwhile the shots broke out.

At 17:13 section clip (22:13GMT), constabulary successful the gathering reported proceeding shots outside, helium said.

As good arsenic 5 injured by gunfire, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries, 2 radical suffered falls and a nine-year aged miss "was deed by a car during the melee", helium continued.

Superintendent of Richmond Public Schools Jason Kamras said the onslaught occurred connected what "is expected to beryllium a joyous time erstwhile our kids locomotion the signifier and get their diploma".

"I don't person immoderate much words connected this I'm bushed of seeing radical get shot, our kids get changeable and I beg of the full assemblage to stop," helium continued.