A graduation ceremony at the Altria Theater in the US transformed from a day of celebration into a scene of panic and terror as gunfire erupted, leaving two dead and five others wounded.
The Altria Theater in Richmond, Virginia, United States is at the southwest corner of Monroe Park on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.
The incident happened on Tuesday evening, as hundreds of jubilant attendees, adorned in their vibrant graduation gowns, suddenly found themselves fleeing for their lives.
“It was obviously chaos,” remarked the city’s police chief, encapsulating the sheer pandemonium that ensued.
“People scattered,” he added, his voice heavy with the weight of the distressing circumstances that unfolded before his eyes.
As the echoes of the gunshots pierced the air, a nineteen-year-old suspect, whose identity remains undisclosed, desperately attempted to evade authorities on foot.
However, swift action by the police led to his apprehension. Officials have announced that the suspect will face charges, including at least two counts of second-degree murder.
While the identity of the victims remains undisclosed by the authorities, it has been revealed that the casualties include an eighteen-year-old young man, who was part of the graduating class, and his thirty-six-year-old father.
A thirty-one-year-old victim currently clings to life, fighting against critical injuries sustained in the incident.
Four additional individuals, aged fourteen, thirty-two, fifty-five, and fifty-eight, were also wounded but are in stable condition.
As families and graduates excitedly exited the theater, their hearts brimming with joy and accomplishment, the sudden eruption of at least eight gunshots shattered the tranquility of the evening.
Amidst the ensuing chaos, terror-stricken individuals raced desperately to find safety, some even clutching young children and infants in their arms.
Others sought refuge within nearby buildings, seeking solace from the terrifying ordeal.
Tearful embraces and inconsolable cries unfolded as graduates, miraculously unharmed, were reunited after the brutal attack.
Regrettably, the repercussions of this act extended far beyond the immediate victims.
In the panic that ensued, an additional twelve people suffered injuries, either in the rush to escape or due to anxiety induced by the traumatic ordeal.
“This should have been a safe space. People should have felt safe at a graduation,” expressed Interim Richmond Police Chief, Rick Edwards during a press conference, his voice filled with a mix of sorrow and righteous anger.
“It’s just incredibly tragic that someone decided to bring a gun to this incident and rain terror on our community,” he continued, struggling to comprehend the motives behind such wanton violence.
Superintendent of Richmond Public Schools, Jason Kamras, echoed the community’s grief and frustration, emphasizing that the attack transpired on what should have been a day of unparalleled joy for their students.
“I don’t have any more words on this; I’m tired of seeing people get shot, our kids get shot, and I beg the entire community to stop,” he implored.
