Seven Shot And Two Killed At Virginia High School Graduation

Two people have been killed and five others injured in a shooting that took place during a high school graduation ceremony in Richmond, Virginia.in the United States.

The shooting outside the Atria Theater sent students in graduation gowns running for safety,

School officials say the shooting took place during a ceremony for the Huguenot High School.

Another graduation scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed and all classes are cancelled on Wednesday.

The victims who were killed an 18-year-old man who was part of the graduating class and his 36-year-old father,.

Police have not yet released their identities, a 19-year-old suspect has been taken into custody, according to Interim Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards. He said that police believe that he knew at least one of the victims.

Another person was found armed with a handgun and was initially detained, but police now believe he was not involved in the attack.

The shooting took place in Monroe Park after the ceremony had ended at the Virginia Commonwealth University campus.

In an alert sent to students on Tuesday, the university said that police were on the scene to respond to the shooting.

Chief Edwards added that three off-duty officers were working inside the theatre and seven more were stationed outside to direct traffic when the shots broke out.

He said as well as the five injured by gunfire, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries, two people suffered falls and a nine-year old girl was hit by a car during the melee.

(AIT)