Shooter ID'd After Father, Son Killed Outside VA Graduation Ceremony

RICHMOND, VA — Authorities have identified and charged a 19-year-old man in connection with a Tuesday shooting outside a graduation ceremony in Richmond that left a father and son dead and several others injured.

Amari Pollard, 19, was arraigned Wednesday morning on two counts of second-degree murder, Richmond prosecutor Colette McEachin said in an email to The Associated Press. Pollard said he intends to hire an attorney, so the court continued the case until a hearing later this month, McEachin wrote.

Pollard was ordered held without bond. Court records did not list an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

According to authorities, five other people were injured in the shooting, which occurred shortly after 5 p.m. in Monroe Park outside the Altria Theater following Huguenot High School's graduation, Interim Chief of Police Rick Edwards said during a press conference broadcast by WWBT.

Shawn Jackson, 18, and Lorenzo Smith, 36, were killed in the shooting, according to reports citing Tameeka Jackson-Smith, Jackson's mother and Smith's wife.

Richmond Interim Police Chief Rick Edwards said Pollard knew Jackson and the two had been embroiled in a dispute for more than a year. Edwards said the nature of the dispute is still being investigated.

Jackson-Smith and her 9-year-old daughter were hit by a car in the chaos that erupted after the shooting, according to The Associated Press. The girl was treated for leg injuries and released from the hospital, Jackson-Smith said.

Jackson-Smith said the family had watched the graduation, then got separated in a large crowd after they walked outside. "He was so happy — oh my God — because he got to graduate. He worked hard."

She said she was walking toward her husband and son in a nearby park to reunite when she saw a man run up behind them and start shooting.

"I don't know if he was shooting at everybody because so many people got shot all over in the area. There were like seven people on the ground," she said.

The surviving victims include a 14-year-old boy, a 32-year-old man, a 55-year-old man, and a 58-year-old man, all with injuries that are not anticipated to be life-threatening, Edwards said. A 31-year-old was also shot and suffered life-threatening injuries, according to Edwards.

Edwards noted hundreds of people were in the park at the time of the shooting. The suspected gunman fled the scene on foot but was taken into custody nearby after he was initially stopped by security from nearby Virginia Commonwealth University, according to Edwards, who said authorities also recovered four handguns.

"This should have been a safe space," Edwards said at a later press conference streamed live by CBS News. "It's just incredibly tragic that someone decided to bring a gun to this incident and rain terror on our community."

"This is supposed to be a joyous day when our kids walk the stage and get their diploma," Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras said at a press conference, shaken and still wearing his ceremonial gown from the graduation festivities.

"I'm tired of seeing people get shot, our kids get shot, and I beg of the entire community to stop. ... Our kids can't take it, our teachers can't take it, our families can't take it anymore."
The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and state and university police are assisting in the investigation, according to Edwards.

In the mayhem, Edwards said two people suffered falls and three had anxiety-related medical events.

"This is tragic but also traumatic because this is their graduation day," Mayor Levar Stoney said at a press conference, referring to the shooting as "selfish" and "senseless" and vowing to seek justice.

State leaders were also quick to address the shooting Tuesday evening.

"My administration continues monitoring the terrible shooting in the heart of Richmond tonight," Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a prepared statement. "State law enforcement are fully supporting the Richmond Police Department as this investigation moves forward."
Sen. Tim Kaine called for action against gun violence.

"My heart breaks to see this horrific tragedy in my hometown," he said in a statement. "I'm sickened that a high school graduation — an occasion that should be joyous — has turned into unimaginable violence. We can't keep living like this. We've got to take action to keep our kids safer."

Anyone who may have video of the attack is asked to contact Richmond police.

The Richmond school district said it would reschedule the Thomas Jefferson High School graduation originally set for Tuesday and close all schools Wednesday.

Counselors for parents and students are available at the ChildSavers Immediate Response Helpline at 804-305-2420 or the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority at 804-819-4100.

Anna Schier contributed reporting and writing.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.