RICHMOND, Va.~ One family, who were caught in the crossfire during the horrific shooting that took place on Tuesday at the Altria Theater, is continuing to be overcome with grief and anguish. When gunfire broke out on Tuesday, June 6, at approximately 5:15 p.m., a graduate and his stepfather were among those who were slain, and more than a dozen other individuals were injured. People who were present at the graduation are more vulnerable to the tragedy that occurred on Tuesday. This includes Barbara Eason, whose family attended the graduation ceremony for Huguenot High School on Tuesday at the Altria. “We’re grieving,” Eason added. “And the people who are shooting don’t realize that by taking someone away from us, they are altering the dynamic of our family,” she said.
There were approximately ten members of Eason’s family present at the time of the shooting, including her daughter, who was Shawn Jackson’s close friend. Eason’s daughter was also present. Jackson was an 18-year-old high school graduate who tragically passed away just minutes after receiving his diploma.
Eason stated that they could have been making arrangements for funerals on that particular day. “That’s just the cold hard truth of the situation. That it is possible for it to take place to anyone at any location at any time,” Ty, Eason’s oldest daughter, finished high school and received her diploma during the epidemic. She then participated in an online graduation ceremony. Therefore, she was thrilled to be there at the Altria Theater for the activities that took place on Tuesday and to witness the students’ graduation.
“They were leaving out of the building just before they exited, they embraced each other, and they congratulated each other on the success of graduation and wished each other good luck for the future,” Eason recalled. “They wished each other good luck for the future and wished each other good luck for the future.” The sad events that occurred on Tuesday have left Eason’s daughter emotionally scarred, and instead of focusing on the future, she is making funeral arrangements for a close friend. Eason asserts that she is aware that the events may have taken a completely different turn at any moment. Eason is troubled by the fact that the gun violence in the neighborhood has reached unimaginable levels, and she is concerned about the safety of her children when she is not with them. “We always see it on TV, but never in a million years did we think that it would happen to our family, but it did!” Eason yelled out loud. Because it happened to our family, it brings home the reality of the situation. My deepest condolences go out to the mother who has suffered the loss of both her son and his stepfather.
Amari Pollard, 19, of Henrico was apprehended and charged by authorities in connection with the gunshot that resulted in fatal injuries. Shortly after the incident, he was taken into custody, and he has since been charged with second-degree murder in connection to the killing of Jackson as well as the death of his stepfather, Renzo Smith. A prayer vigil was held on Thursday night at Grace & Holy Trinity, and another prayer vigil will be held on Sunday, June 11 at 4 p.m. at Monroe Park. Both prayer vigils are open to the public.
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