Photo: y Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images; Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Celebrities are paying tribute to the 12 victims of theFriday shooting in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
On Friday afternoon, a gunman opened fire on a Municipal Complex which houses the city’s public works, public utilities and a printing operation. The gunman killed 12 people and injured more, before he was killed in a shoot out with police.All but one of the victimsworked for the city.
Pharrell Williams, who hails from Virginia Beach, posted an emotional tribute to his hometown on Friday night.
“We are praying for our city, the lives that were lost, their families and everyone affected,” he wrote. “We are resilient. We will not only get through this but we’ll come out of this stronger than before we always do.”
RapperPusha T, also a Virginia Beach native, posted a similar sentiment.
Apple CEO Tim Cook also honored the victims of the “senseless” shooting.
Figure skaterJohnny Weirwrote that he was “praying for the families and loved ones of the victims of today’s mass shooting in Virginia Beach.”
“What a horrific day for America,” he added. “Things have got to change.”
“This is heartbreaking and horrifying. This has to end,”Katie Courictweeted.
George Takeicalled for gun control reform in his tribute post, writing, “Virginia Beach. I am so heartsick. #GunControlNow.”
In a similar sentiment, comedian Michael Ian Black wrote: “The mass shootings aren’t ever going to stop unless we want them to.”
“Another horrendous mass shooting in America,”Piers Morganwrote. “Another moment for Americans to offer lots of thoughts & prayers — then shrug & do nothing to stop it happening again. I love America but this complacent attitude to its gun violence culture is horrible.”
Singer Dinah Jane tweeted: “#VirginiaBeach sad that this is the reality we’re living.. We shall not live in fear but pray for better days”
“My heart is broken for the families of victims and the whole #VirginiaBeach community,”Reese Witherspoonsaid. “Another senseless act of violence ripping families apart. Just devastating.”
On Saturday morning, police revealedthe names of the 12 victimsof the shooting, as well as the identity of the gunman.
The gunman, walked through the building on Friday afternoon shooting people on different floors with a handgun which he reloaded multiple times, Virginia Beach Police Chief James Cervera said in a press conference Friday evening.
Upon receiving a call, officers rushed to the scene and were fired upon.
“They immediately engaged with the suspect, and I can tell you that it was a long gun battle between those four officers and that suspect,” Cervera said.
source: people.com
