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Gunman who opened fire after Virginia high school graduation targeted graduate, Richmond police say

Gunman who opened fire after Virginia high school graduation targeted graduate, Richmond police say
It was supposed to be *** day of joy and celebration for high school graduates here who were gathering with their families right in this park that you see behind me after their commencement ceremony, which took place inside *** local theater less than *** block away from where we are standing. That's when police say *** gunman opened fire inside this park sending people running for cover. And yet another mass shooting. Obviously, this should have been *** safe space that people should have felt safe at *** graduation. *** safe place turned deadly Tuesday night as gunshots rang out following *** high school graduation in Virginia graduates and their families were celebrating and taking photos in Richmond's Monroe Park. When chaos erupted, just everybody started running and I pushed her down on the ground. We got down on the ground and it's just chaos from there. You just kept hurting shots. It was like 89, 10 shots. Several non gunshot related injuries were also reported due to the panic as people rushed to safety including *** nine year old girl who was hit by *** car. People were having panic attacks falling on the ground screaming some people fell, one child was hit by *** car. Richmond police say 19 year old man who they believe was the shooter is in custody. Hogan at high school's ceremony was the second commencement to happen at the Altria Theater. Tuesday. *** third scheduled ceremony for later that night was canceled. Richmond's mayor expressed outrage over the tragedy and promised those who are guilty will be brought to justice. This should not be happening anywhere, anywhere, *** child should be able to go to their graduation and walk up their graduation and enjoy the accomplishment with their friends and their families. Tuesday's shooting marks at least *** 279 th mass shooting in the United States so far this year. That is according to the gun violence archive. Meanwhile, public schools have been canceled for today here in Richmond and high school commencement celebrations have been suspended for the week reporting in Richmond, Virginia, Gloria Pamina. Back to you.
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Gunman who opened fire after Virginia high school graduation targeted graduate, Richmond police say
A gunman who opened fire minutes after a high school graduation in Richmond, Virginia, targeted an 18-year-old graduate he had a long-running dispute with, police said Wednesday.Shawn Jackson, 18, and his father, Lorenzo Smith, 36, were both killed Tuesday in the gunfire, which sent hundreds fleeing in panic outside the state capital’s Altria Theater after the graduation ceremony for Huguenot High School. Five other people were wounded by gunfire, and at least 12 more suffered other injuries or were treated for anxiety due to the mayhem, according to police.Richmond Interim Police Chief Rick Edwards said the shooting suspect, Amari Pollard, 19, knew Jackson and the two had been embroiled in a dispute for more than a year. Edwards said the nature of the dispute is still being investigated.“This was targeted at one individual. ... That's what we know at this time," Edwards said during a news conference Wednesday.Pollard was arraigned Wednesday morning on two counts of second-degree murder, said Colette McEachin, Richmond’s top prosecutor. Pollard said he intends to hire an attorney, so the court continued the case until a hearing later this month, McEachin wrote in an email. Pollard was ordered held without bond. Court records did not immediately list an attorney who could speak on his behalf.Jackson had just received his diploma at the graduation ceremony and had walked to a nearby park with his father to reunite with the rest of their family when the shooting started, said Tameeka Jackson-Smith, Jackson's mother and Smith's wife. She said Smith was Jackson's father, while Edwards later referred to Smith as his stepfather.Jackson-Smith told The Associated Press that her and Smith’s 9-year-old daughter was hit by a car in the chaos that erupted afterward. The girl was treated for leg injuries and released from the hospital, Jackson-Smith said.Jackson-Smith said the family had watched the graduation, then got separated in a large crowd after they walked outside. “He was so happy — oh my God — because he got to graduate. He worked hard," she said of her son.She said she was walking toward her husband and son when she saw a man run up behind them and start shooting.“He was just running and shooting. I had my daughter beside me and I saw her get hit by a car. My niece almost got hit by a car. I was trying to grab them,” she said.Edwards said police believe Pollard attended the graduation, then went outside, where he had some kind of “interaction” with Jackson, and then then went to his car to retrieve a handgun. Other guns were also retrieved from the scene, Edwards said.Edwards said authorities plan to trace the handgun. He said it was not immediately clear how it had been obtained by Pollard because at age 19, he would not have been able to buy a handgun himself from a licensed dealer.A federal judge in Virginia ruled last month that a federal law banning licensed federal firearms dealers from selling handguns to young adults under 21 violates the Second Amendment and is unconstitutional. The Justice Department has filed a motion asking the judge to put any injunction he may order on hold until the government decides whether to appeal his ruling and until any appeal is decided.No officers were injured in the incident or discharged their weapons, according to Edwards.Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras said he did not personally know Jackson but had shaken his hand and wished him congratulations at the ceremony about 20 minutes before he died.“I can’t shake the image of him receiving CPR on the ground," still in his graduation gown, Kamras said.Jackson-Smith said her son enjoyed rap music and making music videos, and played football, basketball and baseball. “Any sport that he touched he was great at,” she said.She said her husband, who was also called “Renzo,” was an Army veteran and a truck driver.“My husband was so sweet," she said. “He was a caregiver, he was just everything that you could wish for in a person.”The five people wounded by gunfire had injuries not considered life-threatening, Edwards said.The superintendent said all remaining high school graduations will be rescheduled for next week and will be held at schools instead of at the theater. There will be enhanced security, he said.All Richmond Public Schools were to close Thursday and Friday, and school-related events were canceled, the district announced. District employees were still asked to report to work, however, and students and families can go to schools to drop off or pick up items or get meals.Edwards said police are asking people who were near the shooting to call a tip line and send the FBI videos or other images they have on their phones.

A gunman who opened fire minutes after a high school graduation in Richmond, Virginia, targeted an 18-year-old graduate he had a long-running dispute with, police said Wednesday.

Shawn Jackson, 18, and his father, Lorenzo Smith, 36, were both killed Tuesday in the gunfire, which sent hundreds fleeing in panic outside the state capital’s Altria Theater after the graduation ceremony for Huguenot High School. Five other people were wounded by gunfire, and at least 12 more suffered other injuries or were treated for anxiety due to the mayhem, according to police.

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Richmond Interim Police Chief Rick Edwards said the shooting suspect, Amari Pollard, 19, knew Jackson and the two had been embroiled in a dispute for more than a year. Edwards said the nature of the dispute is still being investigated.

“This was targeted at one individual. ... That's what we know at this time," Edwards said during a news conference Wednesday.

Pollard was arraigned Wednesday morning on two counts of second-degree murder, said Colette McEachin, Richmond’s top prosecutor. Pollard said he intends to hire an attorney, so the court continued the case until a hearing later this month, McEachin wrote in an email. Pollard was ordered held without bond. Court records did not immediately list an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

Jackson had just received his diploma at the graduation ceremony and had walked to a nearby park with his father to reunite with the rest of their family when the shooting started, said Tameeka Jackson-Smith, Jackson's mother and Smith's wife. She said Smith was Jackson's father, while Edwards later referred to Smith as his stepfather.

Jackson-Smith told The Associated Press that her and Smith’s 9-year-old daughter was hit by a car in the chaos that erupted afterward. The girl was treated for leg injuries and released from the hospital, Jackson-Smith said.

Jackson-Smith said the family had watched the graduation, then got separated in a large crowd after they walked outside. “He was so happy — oh my God — because he got to graduate. He worked hard," she said of her son.

She said she was walking toward her husband and son when she saw a man run up behind them and start shooting.

“He was just running and shooting. I had my daughter beside me and I saw her get hit by a car. My niece almost got hit by a car. I was trying to grab them,” she said.

Edwards said police believe Pollard attended the graduation, then went outside, where he had some kind of “interaction” with Jackson, and then then went to his car to retrieve a handgun. Other guns were also retrieved from the scene, Edwards said.

Edwards said authorities plan to trace the handgun. He said it was not immediately clear how it had been obtained by Pollard because at age 19, he would not have been able to buy a handgun himself from a licensed dealer.

A federal judge in Virginia ruled last month that a federal law banning licensed federal firearms dealers from selling handguns to young adults under 21 violates the Second Amendment and is unconstitutional. The Justice Department has filed a motion asking the judge to put any injunction he may order on hold until the government decides whether to appeal his ruling and until any appeal is decided.

No officers were injured in the incident or discharged their weapons, according to Edwards.

Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras said he did not personally know Jackson but had shaken his hand and wished him congratulations at the ceremony about 20 minutes before he died.

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

Jackson-Smith said her son enjoyed rap music and making music videos, and played football, basketball and baseball. “Any sport that he touched he was great at,” she said.

She said her husband, who was also called “Renzo,” was an Army veteran and a truck driver.

“My husband was so sweet," she said. “He was a caregiver, he was just everything that you could wish for in a person.”

The five people wounded by gunfire had injuries not considered life-threatening, Edwards said.

The superintendent said all remaining high school graduations will be rescheduled for next week and will be held at schools instead of at the theater. There will be enhanced security, he said.

All Richmond Public Schools were to close Thursday and Friday, and school-related events were canceled, the district announced. District employees were still asked to report to work, however, and students and families can go to schools to drop off or pick up items or get meals.

Edwards said police are asking people who were near the shooting to call a tip line and send the FBI videos or other images they have on their phones.