Following a high school graduation ceremony on Tuesday, at least two people were killed and seven others were injured after gunfire erupted near Virginia Commonwealth University in downtown Richmond, according to police and school district officials.
According to the interim Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards, two suspects were arrested after the occurrence, as reported by news agency AP.
Officers who were inside a theater that was being used for the graduation heard gunfire, went outside, and found a number of people with gunshot wounds, according to Edwards.
He stated that four injuries were not life-threatening.
The community did not pose any ongoing threat, according to the police.
“We're going to do everything we can to bring the individuals involved in this to justice,” Mayor Levar Stoney said at the news conference. “This should not be happening anywhere.”
On its website, Richmond Public Schools stated that the shooting occurred in Monroe Park, near the college, following a Huguenot High School graduation.
Around 5:30 p.m., VCU posted an online notice informing the community that shots had been fired and that police were on the way. The area should be avoided, according to an alert issued by state police.
The school district announced that classes would be closed on Wednesday and that a different graduation scheduled for later on Tuesday had been postponed "out of an abundance of caution."
Earlier on May 30, a mass shooting at Hollywood Beach in Florida left at least nine people injured on Memorial Day, according to reports.
According to CBS Miami, the incident occurred on Monday evening in the 1200 block of N Broadwalk, with at least three minor victims among the wounded.
The news station said that one individual was arrested and one suspect might in any case be on the loose after the incident.
Hollywood authorities said that the episode began with a fight between two groups, which heightened with shots being discharged.
“Please avoid the area of Johnson to Garfield Streets, as well as the Broadwalk, due to an ongoing shooting investigation. Heavy police presence in the area. If you are looking to reunite with a family member, we have set up a reunification area at Johnson St and N Ocean bus loop,” tweeted Hollywood Polie Department.
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