The Virginia chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of the Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statement in response to reports of a school shooting at Heritage High School in Newport News, Virginia. Reports indicate that at least two students were shot and wounded. Two 17-year-old students were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening gunshot wounds, as well as at least two others with other injuries. Details are still developing.
“Our thoughts are with the students, parents, faculty and staff of Heritage High School during this harrowing time,” said Jeannie She, a member of the National Advisory Board of Students Demand Action. “Returning to school should not mean a return to gun violence, or the trauma it inflicts on us, in our schools. We will continue to fight to ensure that local and state policymakers take action on proactive, comprehensive solutions to preventing gun violence in schools that prioritize our safety.”
In an average year in Virginia, 1,019 people die by guns and 2,050 are shot and wounded. Before today, there had been at least 19 incidents of gunfire on school grounds at Virginia schools since 2013. This is at least the 3rd incident in the state since August 15th, 2021.
Recently, Everytown for Gun Safety released an updated fact sheet on how to prevent gun violence in schools. More information on the dangers of guns in schools is available here. Information about gun violence in Virginia is available here.