RICHMOND, Virginia: Two people were killed on Tuesday, when gunfire rang out outside a downtown theater in Richmond, Virginia, where a high school graduation ceremony had just ended, causing attendees to flee in panic, weep and clutch their children, authorities and witnesses said.

A 19-year-old suspect tried to escape on foot, but was arrested and will be charged with two counts of second-degree murder, Interim Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards said during a nighttime news conference at which he confirmed the two fatalities.