Two people were shot and killed following Huguenot High School's graduation ceremony outside the Altria Theater in Richmond, Virginia.
The deceased were described by authorities as an 18-year-old male and a 36-year-old male. Several unconfirmed reports were the the victims were a father and son. Richmond’s interim Police Chief Rick Edwards would not confirm that rumor or release the names of the victim’s citing that the families needed time to grieve.
At about 9:30 p.m. it was announced that John Marshall High School’s graduation, scheduled for tomorrow (June 7) would be postponed. Another message on the Richmond Public School’s website informed that “all high school graduations have also been canceled.”
The endless series of mass shootings in the news, with no sign of slowing down, has elected officials and police vexed in a country with more firearms than people. It is estimated that there are over 400 million privately held firearms in the U.S.
"At 5:13 p,m. officers inside reported hearing gunshots outside. Responding officers on traffic detail found multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds,” Interim-Chief Edwards told reporters at a 7 p.m. briefing.
Republican Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears spoke after Edwards, her words were later criticized by several Democrats.
"Even if you took all the guns off the street, from the law-abiding citizens, the others who mean harm, who mean to kill and mayhem, they're going to have the guns. So we have to figure out what's going on in our communities. We have to find the right problem, so that we can come to the right solution."
Sears was also critical of local elected leaders.
“Where is this self righteous outrage coming from with the LG in the aftermath of the shooting in Monroe Park? Did she not campaign with an assault rifle? Did she not attend NRA meeting immediately in aftermath of Uvalde? Gun violence is caused by guns,” wrote State Senator Mamie Locke.
“This gaslighting and political pandering by a LT. GOVERNOR who LITERALLY campaigned holding a picture of an assault rifle is lecturing others on preventing gun violence. She runs out to the scene with no empathy for the victims just thinking of how to appeal to MAGA,” wrote House Democratic Leader Don Scott.
Senator Locke and Leader Scott were responding to what Lt. Gov. Sears said below at a presser at 7 p.m:
Last week in Virginia Beach on May 31 there was a four year anniversary of of the second worse mass shooting in Virginia’s history. On May 31, 2019 twelve people were murdered at a government Building in Virginia Beach.
In March, the family members of those murdered in Virginia Beach met with a members of the Virginia congressional delegation. The 5/31 Families United group is suggesting new policy remedies and ways to support the relatives of crime victims that surpasses the standard “thoughts and prayers” and public memorials.
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Lt. Gov. Sears is wrong.
She should lose her position.