Newtown, CT — On Sunday, four people were murdered, including a 3-month-old baby and their mother, and an 11-year-old girl was injured when a 33-year-old man in full body armor opened fire in a Lakeland, Florida residence. This shooting seems to be random with no direct connection to the victims. The shooter displayed erratic behavior for weeks and admitted to using methamphetamine. This is the 481st mass shooting in the U.S this year and the 20th mass murder with four or more people killed.
In response to this tragedy, Mark Barden, co-founder and managing director of Sandy Hook Promise and father of Daniel, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement:
“I am stunned by this blatant disregard for human life. I stand with the families grieving this senseless attack and murder of their loved ones in a Lakeland, Florida home. The erratic behavior witnessed by those closest to the shooter may have warranted an extreme risk protection order to temporarily remove guns from the shooter’s possession. It is critical that states like Florida, which have already passed these life-saving laws, have the resources to properly implement them. Building awareness with both the public and law enforcement on when and how to utilize extreme risk protection orders is key to saving lives.”
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About Sandy Hook Promise:
Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to end school shootings and create a culture change that prevents violence and other harmful acts that hurt children. Through its life-saving, evidence-informed Know the Signs prevention programs, SHP educates and empowers youth and adults to recognize, intervene, and get help for individuals who may be socially isolated and/or at risk of hurting themselves or others. Through nonpartisan policy and partnerships, SHP advances gun safety, youth mental health, and violence prevention education at the state and federal levels that protect all children from gun violence in their schools, homes, and communities. 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.
Media Contact:
Aimee Thunberg, Senior Director, Communications, Sandy Hook Promise | [email protected] | 646-761-5579