One of the victims of the Huguenot High School graduation shooting on June 6, 2023 is suing Richmond Public Schools for $1 million in damages. 

Travis Johnson, who was attending for his niece’s graduation according to his lawyer, is accusing the division of failing to “provide a safe environment for students and attendees” at the graduation ceremony. 

The suit, filed on June 2, specifically lists the school board, Superintendent Jason Kamras, former Huguenot High Principal Robert Gilstrap, former Assistant Principal Kevin Olds and school guidance counselor Monique Harris as defendants in the case.

All individuals have been previously listed in the ongoing federal suit filed by Tameeka Jackson-Smith, whose son Shawn Jackson and husband Renzo Smith were shot and killed at the Altria Theater where the graduation took place. Kamras, Gilstrap, and Olds were removed from Jackson-Smith’s case — the school board and Harris remain. 

C. James Williams III, who is serving as Johnson’s lawyer, said that Johnson was shot in the leg and has to move slowly at times as his knee frequently bothers him. 

He “can no longer get on his knees to play with nieces and nephews as he used to,” he said in an email to The Richmonder. He said Johnson also experiences PTSD and has flashbacks of the day of the shooting. 

Williams said he was waiting on the results of Jackson-Smith’s case before filing the lawsuit. That case is still ongoing, but Virginia’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years, causing the lawyer and Johnson to file now.

Richmond Public Schools declined to comment on the lawsuit. 

Contact Reporter Victoria A. Ifatusin at vifatusin@richmonder.org