A shooting at a high school graduation ceremony in Richmond, Virginia left two people dead and five injured.
According to JEE News reports, the shooting outside the Atria Theater sent students in graduation gowns running for safety.
School officials say the shooting happened during a Huguenot High School event.
Another graduation scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed and all classes on Wednesday have been canceled.
Police say among those killed were an 18-year-old man who was part of the graduating class and his 36-year-old father. Police have not yet released their identity.
According to Interim Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards, a 19-year-old suspect has been taken into custody. He said police believe he knew at least one of the victims.
Another man was found armed with a handgun and was initially taken into custody, but police now believe he was not involved in the attack.
The shooting happened in Monroe Park after the event on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.
“Is nothing sacred anymore?” Richmond Mayor Lever Stoney asked at a news conference.
He called the shooting a “selfish act,” saying, “A kid should be able to go to his graduation and walk on his graduation and enjoy that accomplishment with his friends and family.”
In an alert sent to students Tuesday, the university said police were on the scene to respond to the shooting.
“There is no threat to the community but there is a heavy police presence in Monroe Park,” the alert said.
Chief Edwards added that three off-duty officers were working inside the theater and seven more were stationed outside to direct traffic when the shots rang out.
At 17:13 local time (22:13GMT), police in the building reported hearing gunshots outside, he said.
As well as five gunshot wounds, which sustained life-threatening injuries, two people fell and a nine-year-old girl was “hit by a car during the altercation”, he continued.
Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Commerce said the attack came on what is “supposed to be a happy day when our kids walk across the stage and receive their diplomas.”
“I don’t have any more words on this. I’m tired of seeing people get shot, our kids get shot and I’m begging the whole community to stop.”
