Virginia graduation shooting – updates: Richmond school official recounts victim’s heartbreaking last moments

Seven people shot in incident on Virginia Commonwealth University’s Monroe Park campus on Tuesday afternoon, with Shawn Jackson, 18, and his stepfather Lorenzo Smith, 36, dying of their injuries

Seven shot, at least two dead at high school graduation in Richmond

Amari Pollard, the 19-year-old suspect in the gun attack on a high school graduation ceremony in Richmond, Virginia, was arraigned on Wednesday morning and charged with two counts of second-degree murder, according to the Richmond Police Department (RPD).

Seven people were shot in the incident on Virginia Commonwealth University’s Monroe Park campus on Tuesday afternoon, with Shawn Jackson, 18, and his stepfather Lorenzo Smith, 36, dying of their injuries.

“I didn’t know Shawn, but I shook his hand and wished him congratulations about 20 minutes before he died,” Richmond Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras told CNN on Wednesday. “I can’t shake the image of him receiving CPR on the ground, still in his graduation gown.”

The outburst of gunfire caused a stampede as graduates and guests attempted to flee the vicinity, a moment of panic captured in at least one video subsequently posted to Facebook. The Richmond Police Department told The Independent in a statement that detectives have determined the shootings were not a random act but resulted from an ongoing dispute between Mr Pollard and Jackson.

“This should not be happening anywhere,” lamented city mayor Levar Stoney.

“Whether it’s in Richmond, it’s in Virginia, in the United States this should not be happening anywhere. A child should be able to go to their graduation and walk at their graduation and enjoy the accomplishment with their friends and their families.”

Key Points

• Two killed and five injured in Richmond high school graduation mass shooting
• Facebook video captures moment graduates flee burst of gunfire
• Victims killed are stepfather and son Lorenzo Smith and Shawn Jackson
• Shooting suspect Amari Pollard, 19, arraigned

[7 June 2023 22:00 · Ariana Baio]

Photos depict heartbreaking scene

Richmond Shooting (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Richmond Shooting (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Law enforcement officers investigate at the scene after a gunman opened fire in a park as high school graduates and their families emerged from a theater where commencement exercises had just concluded, in Richmond, Virginia (Reuters)

Police vehicles are seen parked near a park where, according to the police, a gunman opened fire, in Richmond, Virginia (Twitter@GoadGatsby via REUTERS)

[7 June 2023 23:00 · Ariana Baio]

Richmond Public Schools superintendent shares heartbreaking story

Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras shared a heartbreaking story of his final interaction with 18-year-old recent graduate Shawn Jackson before he was shot and killed on Tuesday.

“I didn’t know Shawn, but I shook his hand and wished him congratulations about 20 minutes before he died,” Mr Kamras said in a press conference on Wednesday.

“I can’t shake the image of him receiving CPR on the ground, still in his graduation gown.”

[8 June 2023 00:00 · Ariana Baio]

Police tracing handgun used in shooting

Rick Edwards, the interim chief of police for Richmond, said authorities would be conducting tracing on the handgun used in the shooting on Tuesday afternoon that killed two people and injured five others.

The handgun was allegedly used by the suspected shooter 19-year-old Amari Ty’Jon Pollard.

However, due to Mr Pollard’s age, he would not have been able to purchase the firearm himself. Mr Edwards said they would be determining where it came from.

[8 June 2023 01:00 · Ariana Baio]

Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin reflects on the Richmond shooting

“As we struggle to fully comprehend this tragedy, our hearts break for those whose lives were lost today. Tonight, we grieve together for their classmates, our neighbors, and the whole Richmond community,” Mr Youngkin wrote on Twitter.

[8 June 2023 02:00 · Ariana Baio]

ICYMI: A high school gathered to celebrate graduation. Then two people were killed

ICYMI: Two people were killed and five others injured during a shooting after a high school graduation in Richmond, Virginia on Tuesday.

Ariana Baio reports:

[8 June 2023 03:00 · Ariana Baio]

WATCH: Recap of horrific shooting

[8 June 2023 04:00 · Ariana Baio]

Police ask public to submit tips, videos and photos

Richmond Police Department’s interim police chief asked the public to submit any tips or photos they may have to the police department as they continued their investigation into the high school graduation shooting.

Photos and videos from the scene have been submitted to detectives by the public. Detectives ask anyone with images or videos from the scene to send them to the FBI website created to capture images in this investigation:https://fbi.gov/huguenotgraduation

People can also reach out to the Tip Line established in the Richmond Police Department for information: (804) 646-6741.

[8 June 2023 05:00 · Ariana Baio]

Suspect identified as 19-year-old in Richmond high school graduation shooting

The suspect in the Richmond, Virginia high school graduation shooting has been identified as 19-year-old Amari Ty’Jon Pollard.

Ariana Baio reports:

[8 June 2023 06:00 · Ariana Baio]

‘This should not be happening anywhere’ mayor of Richmond says

Mayor Levar Stoney of Richmond, Virginia sent his condolences to members of the community affected by the shooting, including victims.

“Is nothing sacred any longer?” Mr Stoney said in a press conference on Tuesday.

“This should not be happening anywhere. Anywhere. Whether it’s in Richmond, it’s in Virginia, in the United States this should not be happening anywhere. A child should be able to go to their graduation and walk at their graduation and enjoy the accomplishment with their friends and their families.”

[8 June 2023 07:00 · Ariana Baio]

Suspect in shooting arraigned

Amari Pollard, 19, of Henrico County, was arraigned on Wednesday morning and charged with two counts of second-degree murder, according to Richmond Police.

Mr Pollard is suspected of being connected to the Richmond high school graduation shooting where seven individuals were shot and two died.

The two deceased victims are 18-year-old Shawn Jackson and his stepfather 36-year-old Lorenzo Smith.

“Detectives have determined the shootings were not a random act but resulted from an ongoing dispute between Pollard and Jackson,” Richmond Police Department told said in a statement to The Independent.

Amari Pollard (Richmond Police Department )