NEWTOWN, Conn. – Four people were killed, and 10 others injured when a gunman opened fire at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, Arkansas. Among those killed was a 23-year-old nurse and mother of an infant child, who was shot while trying to administer aid to another victim. Two police officers were also among those injured in the attack, and the alleged gunman was shot by law enforcement officers before being taken into custody.
In response, 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:
“People going about their day, doing things as basic as purchasing groceries for their households, should never have to endure the horrific mass violence that Fordyce has just experienced. Our hearts are shattered by this senseless act. The pain of having a loved one taken by gun violence has a devastating impact on both the surviving family members and the wider community. We stand with each one of these families and with Fordyce in mourning for every life affected by this terrible incident.”
“In the face of such tragedy, we must all come together – locally and nationally – to support those who are grieving and work together to reverse this epidemic plaguing our country. By learning to recognize the warning signs and how to get help, while also advocating for comprehensive legislative solutions, we can create safer schools, homes, and communities in the U.S.”
Sandy Hook Promise urges everyone to and stand together to advocate for sensible policies that can save lives. To learn more about how you can help, 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] | 219-552-4258