Richmond high school graduation mass shooting suspect ID'd as 19 yo Amari Ty-Jon Pollard

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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The 19-year-old accused of murdering a stepfather and his stepson in a mass shooting that took place at a Richmond high school graduation ceremony has been charged.

Amari Ty-Jon Pollard, of Henrico, was arraigned in court less than 24 hours after the tragic shooting. Pollard was charged with second-degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Shawn Jackson, and second-degree murder in the death of Jackson’s stepfather, 36-year-old Renzo Smith.

Multiple others were shot, and several others were injured in the June 6 tragedy — including Smith’s 9-year-old daughter, who was hit by a car at the scene as hundreds panicked and chaos unfolded. The girl was taken to the hospital to be treated and later released.

Hundreds had gathered at the Altria Theater to attend the Huguenot High School graduation ceremony Tuesday afternoon.

Jackson had just walked out of the Altria doors a newly-minted high school graduate, when police said an interaction between him and Pollard — who was in attendance at the graduation to see a different person — caused Pollard to go to his car and bring back a gun. Police said it was then that the shooting, and pandemonium, began.

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