A devastating incident unfolded in downtown Richmond, Virginia, as a recent high school graduate and his father lost their lives in a shooting that occurred shortly after the graduation ceremony, Your Content has learned.
The 18-year-old student, Shawn Jackson, had just received his diploma from Huguenot High School when chaos erupted in a park where hundreds had gathered to celebrate the milestone achievement.
In the wake of the shooting, which sent shockwaves through the community, five other individuals were wounded, and panic gripped the attendees outside the Altria Theater, owned by the city.
Tameeka Jackson-Smith, the mother of the victim, shared her heart-wrenching account, revealing that her husband, Renzo Smith, and their 9-year-old daughter were also affected by the tragic turn of events.
While the young girl suffered leg injuries after being struck by a car amidst the ensuing chaos, she has since been treated and discharged from the hospital.
According to Jackson-Smith, after the graduation ceremony, the family became separated in a large crowd outside.
In a desperate attempt to reunite with her loved ones, she witnessed a man approach her husband and son from behind, launching a hail of bullets.
The indiscriminate shooting left numerous individuals injured, with Jackson-Smith recounting the horrifying scene of multiple people lying on the ground.
The suspect, identified as 19-year-old Amari Pollard, was arraigned on two counts of second-degree murder the following morning.
Colette McEachin, Richmond’s top prosecutor, confirmed the charges in an email statement, noting that Pollard expressed his intention to hire an attorney.
The court proceedings have been adjourned until later this month to accommodate his legal representation.
Pollard remains in custody without bond, with no attorney currently listed in court records to represent him.
Authorities believe that the suspect had some connection to at least one of the victims, heightening the sense of tragedy in this senseless act of violence.
Regrettably, the incident caused additional injuries to twelve other individuals and left several others seeking treatment for the emotional distress caused by the chaotic scene, as confirmed by the local police, according to WVTM13.
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