Richmond Public Schools students are being shot on the way to the store and on the way to school. It is happening on Northside, Southside, in broad daylight and at night. Elementary school students have had their school day interrupted because of gunfire.

The RPS school year has not yet completed two full months. Four students have been shot and hundreds of students have been near gunfire while at their schools.

Following one of the recent incidents, Superintendent Jason Kamras, in RPS Direct, his daily digest to the RPS community, said: “I don’t know what the answer is to the pandemic of gun violence that plagues our city, and disproportionately impacts RPS students. But we have to find a way to end it. We simply have to.”

The superintendent recommended students and families call ChildSavers if help is needed in working through the trauma of these incidents: ChildSavers Immediate Response line at (804) 305-2420 or send a text to 741741. The Richmond Free Press reached out to Superintendent Kamras, but he has not responded about the school system’s approach for helping students, parents, teachers, staff and administrators navigate the trauma and grief from the recent loss of life and experiences of gun violence experienced in the RPS community.

Sept. 12, 2022: RPS student shot and killed in crossfire while walking to the store.

Sept. 30, 2022: RPS student shot by someone passing by inacarashewalkedtothe bus stop.

Oct. 4, 2022: RPS student shot in crossfire.

Oct. 13, 2022: Armstrong High School football game interrupted by nearby gunfire.

Oct. 14, 2022: Westover Hills Elementary School put on lockdown following a fatal shooting outside the school.

Oct. 19, 2022: RPS student shot, killed and his body thrown into a trash can.