RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A four-day trial is set to begin Monday for a 19-year-old charged in connection to a double-shooting this past April at George Wythe High School.
According to online court records, David Gutierrez, who was a student at the high school, faces five charges in connection to the incident:
- Malicious assault
- Use of a firearm in commission of a felony (x2)
- Malicious wounding
- Possession of a firearm at a school
Gutierrez was first charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of the use of a firearm in commission of a felony when he first appeared before the Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. The counts of attempted murder have since been dropped.
Around noon on April 27, 2023, officers with the Richmond Police Department were called to George Wythe High School.
Once they arrived, authorities found a boy in a wooded area near the parking lot of the school with life-threatening injuries and was rushed to the hospital. Another boy who was also shot took himself to the hospital for treatment.
Officials determined the shooting had occurred in the parking lot of the school.
The shooting caused for several other schools in the area to be put under a “lock and teach.”
Richmond Public School leaders responded to the matter with public comment, “The amount of gun violence in the city has just got to stop,” Jason Kamras, Richmond Schools Superintendent, said. “There are too many guns in the city, and they’re being used too often.”
“I really, really pray that policymakers — i.e., persons like yours truly — in a position of influence elected to office understand that we have to get serious about prioritizing our students and teachers’ welfare,” said Jonathan Young, Richmond Public Schools board member representing the fourth district.”
Gutierrez was arrested within two days after the incident — Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards thanked the partnership of the Chesterfield Police Department K9 Unit, Richmond Public Schools officials, Richmond Police School Resource Officers, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Marshals.
“I cannot stress enough how important our relationships with local and federal law enforcement partners led to a quick arrest,” Chief Edwards said.
Gutierrez’s jury trial is scheduled to begin at 9:30 at Richmond City Circuit Court.
