High school graduation shooting victims identified as 18-year-old and his stepdad as suspect pictured
The two victims who died after a gunman opened fire at a high school graduation ceremony were identified as a recently graduated senior and his stepfather.
Shawn Jackson, 18, had received his diploma only 20 minutes before he was shot and killed beside his stepfather, Lorenzo Smith, 36, police confirmed on Wednesday.
The shooter was identified as 19-year-old Amari Pollard. He was arraigned on Wednesday morning and charged with two counts of second degree murder.
Acting Richmond Chief of Police Rick Edwards said the investigation is ongoing, and Pollard may face further charges in the future.
Edwards said the shooter targeted the recent graduate. ‘We believe that two individuals – Shawn Jackson and Amari Pollard – knew each other,’ the police chief said.
He also dismissed rumors that the shooting was the result of a gang dispute. ‘There is no information that we have that they are gang members,’ Edwards said.
Five more people were injured in the chaos at Tuesday’s ceremony for Huguenot High School in Richmond, Virginia. Edwards also confirmed that one of the injured victims was a nine-year-old girl who was struck by a car during the ensuing chaos.
‘She is still in non-life-threatening condition with very minor injuries,’ the police chief said. ‘She is related to this family as well.’
Tameeka Jackson-Smith, the victims’ mother and wife, later confirmed that the nine-year-old was her daughter. She described the chaos that broke out only minutes after they left Richmond’s Altria Theater.
‘He was just running and shooting,’ she said. ‘I had my daughter beside me and I saw her get hit by a car. My niece almost got hit by a car. I was trying to grab them.’
At a press conference on Wednesday, Richmond Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras described meeting Jackson only moments before his death.
‘I didn’t know Shawn, but I shook his hand and wished him congratulations about 20 minutes before he died,’ Kamras said. ‘I can’t shake the image of him receiving CPR on the ground, still in his graduation gown.’
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney promised the community justice for the horrific crime.
‘We believe there must be accountability for this violence,’ the mayor said. ‘The individual who committed this senseless and cowardly act must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.’
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