A Final Report on the Huguenot Graduation Shooting and Code Refresh
Cheers RVA!
Today will be partly cloudy and humid with a high of 86 and a low of 72, with a slight chance of a stray shower.
the juice:
The Richmond Police Department has released a full report on the mass shooting that resulted in the loss of two lives and five others injured after a RPS High School Graduation Ceremony at Altria Theater near Monroe Park in June of 2023.
The Commonwealth Attorney’s office has stated no further prosecutions in the case are planned.
Amari Polland shot and killed 18-year old High School graduate Shawn Jackson, and plead guilty to first degree murder and has been sentenced to 25 years in jail.
Jackson’s stepfather Renzo Smith was also killed in the shooting, with the report concluding that Jackson’s killer was not Pollard, and Smith did not shoot himself.
The report also concluded that no weapons were bought into Altria Theater, and there was no evidence that Jackson was ever armed. Video and eyewitness testimony established weapons involved were obtained from vehicles near the event, after the graduation ceremony and before contact in Monroe Park.
Two juveniles also fired shots at the scene, but the investigation concluded those shots were fired in defense of others and Virginia Law does not hold those individuals responsible for injuries that occurred at the scene.
Police were not able to recover all weapons that were used at the scene.
Commonwealth Attorney Colette McEachin released the following statement to WTVR:
The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney applauds the efforts of the Richmond Police Department to provide answers to the community about their investigation in the case against Amari Pollard. I would clarify that my office did not decline to prosecute the juveniles. Every individual, whether a juvenile or an adult, who fired a gun and survived was charged with every crime that could be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Virginia law prohibits my office from providing any further information about any juveniles who were charged with criminal offenses based upon their actions in Monroe Park.
Watch the detailed video report here.
the pulp:
A 19-year old school high school student from Afghanistan was detained by ICE at the Henrico County Courthouse on Friday after appearing for traffic-related offenses, via WWBT. The man’s family immigrated to the United States in 2021 after the US military exit from Afghanistan.
The Code Refresh Advisory Council will hold a meeting at City Hall today from 4:00 - 6:30 pm. The interactive comment map is still open and will remain so until September 10.
the vibe:
Glad other people saw this too.
Have a curious day RVA!
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