RICHMOND, Va. - A 19-year-old allegedly shot seven people, and killed two of them, police said, following a high school graduation ceremony Tuesday near Virginia Commonwealth University in downtown Richmond.The suspect tried to flee but was arrested and will be charged with two counts of second-degree murder, Interim Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards said in a nighttime news conference at which he confirmed the two fatalities.Five others were wounded by the gunfire outside the Virginia capital’s Altria Theater and in an adjacent park.
At least 12 others were injured or treated for anxiety due to the mayhem, according to police."As they heard the gunfire, it was obviously chaos," Edwards said. "We had hundreds of people in Monroe Park, so people scattered.
It was very chaotic at the scene."Edwards said the two who died were both male, ages 18 and 36. Their names were not released, but police believe the suspect, who was not immediately identified, knew at least one of the victims.Two people were taken into custody after the incident, Interim Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards initially said at an earlier news conference.
One of those individuals was later released.Police recovered multiple handguns.Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney vowed to ensure anyone responsible faces justice."This should not be happening anywhere," Stoney said.Officers inside the theater, where the graduation ceremony for Huguenot High School was taking place, heard gunfire around 5:15 p.m.