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7 shot, 2 dead at high school graduation in Richmond, Virginia

Seven victims were shot outside of a venue where a high school graduation had just taken place. Two of the victims have died.
Multiple people shot at high school graduation in Richmond, Virginia
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Multiple people were shot in the area where a high school graduation ceremony was wrapping up in Virginia's capital city, according to Scripps News Richmond.

The shooting happened as the graduation ceremony for Huguenot High School was ending at Altria Theater in Richmond, near the Virginia Commonwealth University campus. 

Sources told Scripps News Richmond there were at least seven victims with gunshot wounds, according to police. At least two of the victims with gunshot wounds were listed in "grave" condition, according to reports. They later died at a nearby hospital. 

Police said two individuals were initially detained, with only one of those currently suspected of being involved. The suspect believed to be involved is 19 years old, police said. Police said they were planning to seek second-degree murder charges. The other individual who was detained has been released.

The weapons believed to be involved are hand guns. 

At least one other shooting victim had injuries that were considered life-threatening. That victim is 31 years old, according to police. 

Four victims had non-life threatening injuries, including a 14-year-old male, a 32-year-old male, a 58-year-old male and a 55-year-old male, according to police. 

Footage showed law enforcement personnel responding to the scene of the theater, located near Richmond's Monroe Park near downtown. 

At least five people were reported injured in the rush to escape gunfire. At least one of those, a 9-year-old girl, was injured after being hit by a car while trying to escape. The girl had non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. 

Another victim reportedly suffered from an anxiety attack, police said. 

Scripps News Richmond reported that school officials implemented a lockdown for the area, and reported hearing loud bangs and seeing people being evacuated on stretchers.

Virginia Commonwealth University sent text alerts to users in the area, reporting shots fired in the vicinity of its campus and urging people to stay indoors or avoid the area.

Richmond police and VCU Campus police later said there was no ongoing threat to the community.


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