State of Virginia
Two people shot dead at US high school graduation
The students had celebrated their graduation at the Altria Theater in Richmond before the shots were fired
© Mike Kropf/Richmond Times-Dispatch/AP/DPA
Graduates from a US high school in Richmond, Virginia, were celebrating their graduation at a local theater. Then shots were fired.
Two people were killed in a shooting at a high school graduation in Virginia. Five other people were injured, the police said on Tuesday (local time). A suspect was reportedly arrested.
The shooting happened outside a theater in the city of Richmond, Police Chief Rick Edwards said. Students celebrated their graduation there. The dead are an 18-year-old graduate and a 36-year-old man.
Guns are easy to get in the US state of Virginia
A 19-year-old suspect fled the scene but was arrested shortly thereafter, sources said. The police initially gave no information on the motive. However, the suspect knew at least one of the victims. Multiple handguns were found at the scene, officials said.
In the United States there are repeated gun attacks with many injuries and deaths. The country has more guns than people. Around 49,000 people died from the use of firearms in 2021, compared to 45,000 in 2020. Firearms are also relatively easy to obtain in the US state of Virginia. Since the law was tightened in 2020, one handgun per person can still be purchased per month.