NEWTOWN, Conn. – Three young children were among five people killed by gunfire at a home in Lake Station, Indiana over the weekend. The deaths of the children, who ranged in age from four to seven years old, as well as a 27-year-old female that was found at the scene were listed as homicides. A 31-year-old male also found at the home died by suicide, according to the Lake County Coroner.
Firearms are the leading cause of death among Indiana children and teens. Research published just this month by Stanford University found that a majority of U.S. children who die in mass shootings are killed by a family member. These grim facts underscore the importance of proactive gun violence prevention solutions – not only in public settings like schools and communities, but in homes, as well.
In response to the tragic shooting in Lake Station, Nicole Hockley, co-founder and co-CEO of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement:
“Our hearts are with all of the loved ones, and the Lake Station community, who are now processing this senseless and devastating shooting. To know that children so young were ripped away by gun violence in an environment where they should have been safe and protected is horrifying. Kids deserve the right to be kids, and to be safe. But too often the nightmare of gun violence destroys this fundamental and precious right. We must all join in advocating for change.
“Stories like these should not be thought of as inevitable in American life. The truth is that gun violence is preventable when you know the warning signs and how to connect with help. When people are experiencing a crisis, there are often behavior signals that provide opportunities for intervention. That is how lives can be saved.
“For example, Indiana is one state that has implemented temporary transfer legislation to support a person’s firearms being temporarily removed from their possession if they’ve been deemed a threat to themselves or others. When everyone is taught to recognize the warning signs and seek help, steps like temporary transfers are great opportunities to save lives, get people the help they need, and preserve our constitutional rights. We must continue to advance legislative solutions like these — in addition to educating on the warning signs of violence — to protect children.”
For more information on proven violence prevention programs and policies, as well as information about how to take action to prevent gun violence, 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.
Media Contact:
Nick Dmitrovich | [email protected] | 203-304-9780 Ext. 279
