Statement from Mayor Bill de Blasio on Shootings in Virginia

August 27, 2015

“No words can describe the immensity of this tragedy. New Yorkers are no stranger to the pain and confusion that comes with the senseless loss of life. We stand with Virginians during this dark hour. The bright futures of two hardworking, young journalists, Alison Parker and Adam Ward, were stolen away. We cannot wait for another incident to confront the scourge of gun violence and take serious action to provide mental health treatment for troubled individuals. We must honor the legacy of all those who have been lost in Virginia, Newtown, Aurora, Charleston, and far too many other places by doing everything in our power – as cities, states, and as a country – to stop this kind of violence before it starts.”