Newtown, CT — On Tuesday, April 30th, two University of North Carolina at Charlotte students, Ellis Parlier, 19, and Riley Howell, 21, were killed and four others were wounded, Drew Pescaro, 19; Sean Dehart, 20; Emily Houpt, 23; and Rami Alramadhan, 20, when a former student opened fire on the campus during the last day of classes.
In response to this tragedy, Sandy Hook Promise issue the following statement:
“In the days following the tragic shooting at The Chabad of Poway Synagogue, we see yet another place that should be a safe haven become a scene of violence. My heart goes out to those who are affected by these shootings, as I know all too well that their community will never be the same,” said Nicole Hockley, co-founder and managing director of Sandy Hook Promise and the mother of Dylan who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting. “We should expect all public places, especially schools and places of worship, to be safe. On the last day of classes, these students were preparing not only for final exams and summer break, but for what was still to come, lives full of so much potential. While no explicit warning signs have been reported at this time, we must all learn to recognize the signs and signals of someone in crisis and say something when we see them. It is our duty to look after one another and our community.”
To date, more than 6.5 million people nationwide have been trained in Sandy Hook Promise’s proven Know the Signs programs that focus on prevention to help end the epidemic of gun violence by training youth and adults how to identify at-risk behavior and intervene to get help before a tragedy can occur. Through these no-cost programs, Sandy Hook Promise has averted multiple school shooting plots, teen suicides, and countless other acts of violence.
About Sandy Hook Promise: Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) is a national nonprofit organization based in Newtown, Connecticut. We are led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012 that claimed the lives of 20 first-graders and 6 educators. Sandy Hook Promise is focused on preventing gun violence (and all violence) BEFORE it can happen by educating and mobilizing parents, schools, and communities on mental health and wellness programs that identify, intervene, and help at-risk individuals. SHP is a moderate, above-the-politics organization that supports sensible non-policy and policy solutions that protect children and prevent gun violence. Our intent is to honor all victims of gun violence by turning our tragedy into a moment of transformation. Make the Promise at www.sandyhookpromise.org.