7 people injured and killed after shooting at high school graduation in the US

Police say they have arrested a 19-year-old suspect who fired into a crowd emerging from a Huguenot High School commencement ceremony inside a theater on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.

Law enforcement officers investigate at the scene. Photo: REUTERS

Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards said at a news conference that the suspect is likely to be charged with second-degree murder along with other charges.

Edwards called the shooter's actions "disgusting and cowardly," as he appeared to have had an argument with only one person in the crowd.

"When you have a crowd like this, innocent people are going to get caught up in the chaos, and that's what happened today," Edwards said. "Obviously, this is supposed to be a safe space... It's incredibly tragic that someone would choose to bring a gun to this incident and unleash terror on our community."

The United States regularly records mass shootings in public places such as schools, shopping malls and churches.

The mass shooting was the country's 279th in the first 157 days of 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

Edwards said the dead were men aged 18 and 36. Edwards added that among those injured, a 31-year-old man was in life-threatening condition and four others aged 14, 32, 55 and 58 were considered to be in critical condition.

Additionally, a 9-year-old girl was hit by a car in the ensuing chaos and several others were injured from falls or nervousness, Edwards added.

The suspect fled the scene and was arrested in possession of four handguns, he said.

Mai Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/7-nguoi-thuong-vong-sau-vu-xa-sung-tai-le-tot-nghiep-trung-hoc-o-my-post250677.html