7 shot during high school graduation in Richmond, Virginia

Seven people were shot when bullets flew outside a high school graduation ceremony in Richmond, Virginia Tuesday, according to officials and local reports.

Two suspects were taken into custody following the shooting across from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Altria Theater, where Huguenot High School was hosting its commencement ceremony, said Interim Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards.

Edwards said around 5:15 p.m. cops inside the theater heard the sound of gunshots and radioed officers stationed outside who then discovered multiple shooting victims at a park across from the building.

The police chief confirmed that seven people were shot and three of them sustained life-threatening injuries.

It’s unclear if any students were among the victims.

In addition to the seven struck by gunfire, two people were injured from falls, one was struck by a car at the scene and three more went to the hospital for panic attacks, according to the station.

Edwards said there was no longer a threat to the public after police arrested the suspects.

“We’re going to do everything we can to bring the individuals involved in this to justice,” Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney said at the news conference. “This should not be happening anywhere.”

A witness told 8News they heard at least 30 gunshots and sources told the station that four firearms were recovered at the scene.

“Everyone literally started running for their lives,” the witness explained.

School board member Jonathan Roung told local station WWBT that the gunfire prompted “a stampede” of people returning to the building.

The shooting occurred inside Monroe Park, which is across the street from the theater, Richmond Public Schools said in a statement on its website.

The school district announced that all high school graduations scheduled for this week have been canceled and all schools will be closed Wednesday “out of an abundance of caution.”

“This is supposed to be a joyous day when our kids walk the stage and get their diplomas, which is what they all did here today for Huguenot…and then this tragedy occurred,” Richmond Public Schools superintendent Jason Kamras told reporters at the scene. “I’m just tired of seeing people get shot, our kids get shot. I beg of the entire community to stop.”