NY Governor Andrew Cuomo
ALBANY – New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has responded to the Orlando mass shooting.
Early Sunday morning a shooter, identified as Omar Mateen, opened fire on attendees at The Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., killing a reported 50 people, wounding an additional 53 others, and devastated a city famous for family-friendly theme parks. It’s described as the worst mass shooting incident in modern U.S. history.
On Sunday Gov. Cuomo said that he is shocked and saddened by the senseless attack and on behalf of all New Yorkers, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, the injured and their loved ones. He also directed flags at state buildings to be flown at half-staff in the memory of those who were lost. And the governor directed the lights of One World Trade Center’s spire to be displayed in the colors of the pride flag.
Cuomo also said the incident is just one more horrific reminder of the need for Congress to pass real and sensible gun safety legislation similar to the SAFE ACT in New York.
And the Governor also said that New York City and other areas will see stepped up enforcement to ensure similar situations don’t play out as several communities plan Pride rallies and events in the coming weeks as part of LGBT Pride Month.
“Early reports indicate this was likely an act of domestic terrorism,” Cuomo said. “While there is no specific intelligence that suggests any link between the attacks that occurred in Orlando with New York, out of an abundance of caution, I have directed additional security measures at key points around the state as a precaution. The safety of New Yorkers and our state’s visitors is our number one priority, and we are remaining vigilant and in close contact with local and federal officials and our partner law enforcement agencies.”
The governor reminds residents that if they see any type of suspicious activity, they can report it on the state’s Terrorism Tip Line at 1-866-SAFE-NYS (1-866-723-3697).
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