NEWTOWN, Conn. – Six people were killed yesterday after a gunman committed attacks at two homes on opposite sides of Florida’s main peninsula, more than 200 miles apart. Investigators linked an attack in Fort Lauderdale in which two victims were killed to another shooting in Sarasota where four victims were killed. The suspected shooter was also found dead at the Sarasota scene.
A motive for the shooting is unknown, but investigators have said the suspect was romantically involved with one of the Fort Lauderdale victims. Also, that romantic partner was connected to the Sarasota victims. Additional information about the suspect is yet to be released.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, the state of Florida has experienced three mass shootings – in which four or more are killed or injured excluding the shooter – in 2026. Last year, there were at least 16 mass shootings in Florida.
In response to this attack, Nicole Hockley, co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement:
“This shocking rampage has not only shattered the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims, but has also terrorized two separate Florida communities hundreds of miles apart from one another. Senseless violence such as this has no place in our society. This kind of harm has a lasting impact, and it’s not something we should ever accept.
“We stand with the victims in Fort Lauderdale and Sarasota and remain steadfast in demanding a safer future where people no longer fear becoming a victim of a mass shooting – especially in their own homes, along with everywhere else throughout their communities. Research has shown that warning signs are almost always present leading up to potential acts of violence. As the signs become apparent in these recent incidents, we encourage law enforcement to share information about the signals. The ability to recognize these warning signs provides some of the best opportunities to intervene and avert future tragedies. Gun violence is preventable. We must do more to come together and take action to end this.”
For more information about gun violence prevention, resources for how communities can heal after a tragedy, and information about ways to support life-saving firearm access policies, please visit sandyhookpromise.org.
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Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed “Know the Signs” prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
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Nick Dmitrovich | [email protected] | 203-304-9780 Ext. 279