U.S. Rep. Al Lawson Shooting at a Raines High School Football Game

JACKSONVILLE, FLA.  – U.S. Rep. Al Lawson (FL-05) released the following statement regarding last night shooting at a Raines High School Football game, which left one person dead and two others injured:

“The abject grief and sorrow that is in the hearts of the family and friends of the young man who lost his life at last night’s Raines vs Lee High School football game is real and it is private. The families and friends of the two students who were injured are also suffering this morning. Now is the time to rally to support and attend to the families and loved ones of the young man who lost his life and the two students who were injured.

This violence is unacceptable. I pray for the families affected, who understandably, are grasping to make sense of this violation of the rhythm of life with broken hearts. Caring for and protecting our children is our first and most important job. I offer my assistance to the Jacksonville communities, Sheriff’s Office, and Duval County Public Schools. While we don’t yet know the motives of the shooter, what we do know is that there are steps we can take to make communities safer. These senseless types of shootings are occurring all too frequently. We must come together — community-by community — to make sure this type of absurd violence ends now!

I commit to work with community leaders until we can honestly say that everything we know to do to keep our children and communities safe from harm has been done.”

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