NEWTOWN, Conn. – One person was killed and two others were injured after a gunman opened fire in an academic building on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. At the time of the shooting, students were in classes inside the building. One of the injured victims is hospitalized in critical condition, and the other has been treated and released.
The shooter was subdued and killed by Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) students. They have been identified as a former Army National Guard member who pled guilty in 2016 to attempting to aid the Islamic State and spent eight years in prison. At the time, the suspect expressed thoughts about carrying out an attack similar to the 2009 Fort Hood shooting in which 13 people were killed.
In response, 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:
“Losing a loved one in this way leaves a hole inside you that’s almost impossible to describe. No one should ever have to experience this kind of tragedy, especially one so senseless. We stand with the communities of Norfolk and Old Dominion University as they begin the process of healing. We also hope for a swift and full recovery for the two injured victims, as well as the other students and staff who were present in the building. The trauma of an event like this can ripple far throughout communities, affecting everyone.
“Expressing thoughts about committing a mass shooting, even though several years had passed before this week’s attack, is a clear warning sign of an individual in crisis. It’s likely that a range of other warning signs manifested in the days and week’s leading up to the shooting, and we encourage law enforcement to share what their investigation reveals. When you know the signs, you can get help and save lives.”
For more information about gun violence prevention, resources for how communities can heal after a shooting, 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