At least ‘five people have been critically injured’ and ‘two people taken into custody’ after a mass shooting at a Virginia high school graduation.
Local reports claim bystanders heard ’20 bangs’ causing ‘hundreds’ to reportedly run to take cover as police swarmed the Altria Theater in Richmond just after 5.00pm on Tuesday afternoon.
Images and video from the scene show multiple law enforcement officers securing the area with police tape with authorities warning people to ‘avoid the area.’
It’s believed ‘kids were taking graduation photos’ as the shooter opened fire.
It remains unclear how many shooters were active, however police confirmed the two people taken into custody were not high school students.
Multiple people have been allegedly shot at a high school graduation in Virginia with police warning the shooter is still active
School board member Jonathan Young told 8News that there were ‘multiple injuries’ at the Huguenot High School ceremony scheduled to start at 4pm.
He told CBS 6: ‘We immediately heard a series of probably 20 loud bangs in consecutive order.
‘And that prompted of course a lot of persons, probably a few 100 persons to make a rush back inside the Altria… controlled chaos.’
Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney released a statement on Twitter about the situation.
‘Currently monitoring the situation at Monroe Park. In touch with RPD and RPS. Will make information available as it comes in. Please avoid the area,’ Stoney’s tweet reads.
Richmond Police tweeted: ‘RPD is on scene for a shooting located at Laurel Street and Franklin Street. Multiple injuries reported.
It’s believed ‘kids were taking graduation photos’ as the shooter opened fire
Images and video from the scene show multiple law enforcement securing the area. People were advised to avoid the area
‘There is no immediate threat to the public. Briefing to follow. Avoid the area.’
Richmond Public Schools will be closed tomorrow following the shooting incident.
Three schools were scheduled to have graduation ceremonies at the Altria Theater on Tuesday when the alert by VCU went out at 5.15pm.
DailyMail.com has contacted Richmond Police, VCU and Huguenot High School for comment.
This is a developing story.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
