“I am heartbroken and outraged by the horrific tragedy in Minneapolis today that claimed the lives of two young children and injured so many others during what should have been a joyful first week of school. My prayers are with the families of the victims, the students, teachers and the entire Annunciation Catholic School community as they endure the unimaginable.

“As a father, I cannot begin to fathom the pain of sending your child to school or church and never seeing them come home. No parent should have to carry that fear.

“This act of pure evil is yet another painful reminder that we must do more to protect our children and ensure schools, houses of worship and all community spaces remain safe. I stand with the people of Minneapolis, and I pledge to continue working here in New York to prioritize public safety, support law enforcement and take meaningful steps to prevent tragedies like this from happening again.”