2023 Richmond shooting

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2023 Richmond shooting
VCU Police parked in front of the Altria Theater on June 7, 2023
LocationMonroe Park, Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
DateJune 6, 2023
5:13 p.m. (EDT)
Attack type
Mass shooting
Weapons4 handguns
Deaths2
Injured17 (5 by gunfire)
ConvictedAmari Pollard

On June 6, 2023, a mass shooting occurred in Richmond, Virginia following a high school graduation at the Altria Theater in the Monroe Park campus of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).[1][2][3][4]

According to the authorities, seven were wounded by gunfire, including three suffering life-threatening injuries, and twelve others suffered unrelated injuries.[5][6][7] Later in the evening, police announced that two of those who had been wounded by gunfire had died.[8]

Two persons were initially arrested in connection with the event but only one, 19-year-old Amari Pollard, remained a suspect.[5][8][9]

Background[edit]

Huguenot High School, of the Richmond Public Schools district, began their graduation ceremony at 4 pm local time in the Altria Theater.[4] After the ceremony, Shawn Jackson, one of the graduates, left the theater and walked to Monroe Park to reunite with his family.[9]

Shooting[edit]

The shooting occurred in Monroe Park, outside the Altria Theater and after the graduation ceremony for Huguenot High School, around 5:13pm local time.[8][10] Graduation attendees were exiting the theater at the time of the shooting.[6] Police inside the theater, who had been working security for the graduation, heard shots and passed that information to other emergency responders.[1][4][8] An alert was sent out by Virginia Commonwealth University at 5:15pm.[8]

A member of the Richmond City School Board who was in attendance, said that the shooting began shortly after they were exiting the building and they had heard about 20 shots in quick succession. A woman selling items for families to give graduates said the whole area became chaotic, with people trampling others and possessions in order to flee the area.[11]

The assailant was armed with four handguns and used three.[12] One hour later, the threat was assumed to have been neutralized.[13]

Victims[edit]

The shooting resulted in the deaths of two individuals and seven wounded by gunfire and an additional six injured in the chaos of evacuating the area.[14] Two of those initially wounded, Lorenzo Smith (36 years old) and his stepson Shawn Jackson (18 years old), died from their wounds.[9][15]

According to the authorities, there were seven wounded by gunfire, including three suffering life-threatening injuries.[5][6] Additionally, Smith's 9-year-old daughter was hit by a car while fleeing the vicinity of the shooting; she was treated at the scene and later went to the hospital, where she was released by June 7.[9][7] Eleven other people also suffered injuries not linked with gun wounds: nine were treated for minor injuries and anxiety, and two suffered falls.[1][7][8][10][16]

Investigation[edit]

Two persons were initially arrested, one of whom was Amari Pollard, a 19-year-old man.[6][8][9] He "had a long-running dispute" with Shawn Jackson.[9] Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards said at a news conference that Pollard had attended the graduation, had an "interaction" with Jackson after the ceremony, and then had retrieved a handgun from his car.[9]

Investigators later said the other person initially arrested is not thought to have been involved.[8] Police announced they planned to pursue charges of second-degree murder against the remaining suspect.[8][9] He was held without bond.[9] On the morning of June 7, he was arraigned on two counts of second-degree murder.[9] A hearing is scheduled for later in June.[9]

In February 2024, Amari Pollard pleaded guilty to first degree murder for the death of Shawn Jackson. He was then sentenced to 43 years in prison with 18 years suspended.[17]

Aftermath[edit]

The graduation ceremony for Thomas Jefferson High School, which was scheduled to take place in the Altria Theater later that evening, was cancelled.[4][10] Later it was announced that all graduations for the rest of the week would be canceled, and that the rescheduled ceremonies would be held at schools, with heightened security.[9][13] Some local roads were closed while police investigations were ongoing.[10]

Richmond Public Schools announced they would be closed on the following day, June 7, out of an abundance of caution.[1][4] On June 7, RPS announced they would be closed for the remainder of the week, which was also the end of their school year. All unfinished graduations were rescheduled to the following week taking place at school locations instead.[18]

Reactions[edit]

Memorial made in the days after the shooting.

Winsome Sears, the Republican Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, said that gang violence was to blame for the shooting. At the time the Richmond Police Department believed the suspect knew the victims.[19] Levar Stoney, the mayor of Richmond, Jason Kamras, the Superintendent of Richmond Public Schools, and others also reacted to the mass shooting, expressing their sympathy towards the victims and their shock.[2]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Murray, Delaney (June 6, 2023). "Multiple people injured in active shooting in Richmond's Monroe Park area". WRIC ABC 8News. Archived from the original on June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Multiple people shot at high school graduation in Richmond, Crime Insider sources tell Jon Burkett". CBS 6 News Richmond WTVR. June 6, 2023. Archived from the original on June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  3. ^ "Multiple people injured in shooting in Richmond, Virginia". The Guardian. June 6, 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on June 17, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Report: Shooting occurs at Altria Theater". VPM. June 6, 2023. Archived from the original on June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Marcus, Josh (June 6, 2023). "Seven victims shot at Virginia high school graduation as suspects in custody". The Independent. Archived from the original on June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d Rankin, Sarah (June 6, 2023). "7 wounded in shooting after high school graduation ceremony in Virginia capital". AP NEWS. Archived from the original on June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Romero, Dennis (June 7, 2023). "Father and son, 18, killed and 5 injured in shooting after high school graduation at Virginia Commonwealth University". NBC News. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i Smart, Sara; Lynch, Jamiel (June 6, 2023). "2 killed and 5 others injured in shooting outside a high school graduation venue in Richmond, Virginia, police say". CNN. Archived from the original on June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Rankin, Sarah; Lavoie, Denise (June 7, 2023). "Police: Gunman who opened fire after high school graduation targeted graduate". AP NEWS. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d "Sources: 5 shot near Altria Theater following graduation celebration". WWBT. June 6, 2023. Archived from the original on June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  11. ^ Salahieh, Nouran (June 7, 2023). "A mass shooting after a high school commencement ceremony leaves 2 dead, including an 18-year-old graduate". CNN. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  12. ^ Trotta, Daniel; Gorman, Steve; Trotta, Daniel (June 7, 2023). "Gunman shoots two dead, wounds five others at Virginia high school graduation". Reuters. Archived from the original on June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Seven shot, two arrested after shooting at Richmond high school graduation". WSLS. June 6, 2023. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  14. ^ Nguyen, Thao (June 7, 2023). "2 dead in shooting after high school graduation ceremony in Richmond, Virginia; suspect in custody". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  15. ^ Mascarenhas, Lauren; Salahieh, Nouran (June 7, 2023). "The 2 killed in mass shooting after Virginia high school graduation ceremony were an 18-year-old graduate and his stepfather". CNN. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  16. ^ Albeck-Ripka, Livia (June 7, 2023). "Two People Fatally Shot Outside High School Graduation in Richmond". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  17. ^ "Virginia man sentenced to 43 years after pleading guilty to killing teen who had just graduated". Associated Press. February 29, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  18. ^ Murray, Delaney (June 7, 2023). "Richmond Public Schools close for rest of school year, graduations rescheduled". WRIC ABC 8News. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  19. ^ "Updates: 2 fatally shot, 5 wounded after Huguenot High School graduation". Richmond Times-Dispatch. June 6, 2023. Archived from the original on June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
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