The Statement of [office-of-official] on the Shootings in [name of town or state]
We’ve endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years. And each time I learn the news I react not as a [office-of-official], but as anybody else would -- as a [likely relationship of those living to those killed]. And that was especially true today in [name of town or state]. I know there’s not a [likely relationship of those living to those killed] in America who doesn’t feel the same overwhelming grief that I do.
The majority of those who died today were [demographic or other status of the majority of victims] -- [describe something poignant about the status of the victims]. They had their [qualifying adjectives regarding life spans of most victims] lives ahead of them -- [example of activities most victims would engage in]. Among the fallen were also [name of second largest number of victims by category] -- [poignant description of second largest number of victims by category].
So our hearts are broken today -- for the [likely relationship of those living to those killed] of the [demographic or other status of victims] who were lost. Our hearts are broken for the [likely relationship of those living to those killed] of the survivors as well, for as [poignant statement], they know that their [more poignant statement].
As a country, we have been through this too many times. Whether it’s an [list characteristics of previous shootings with more than 20 murdered over the past 6 months]-- these neighborhoods are our neighborhoods, and these [demographic or other status of victims] are our [demographic or other status of victims]. [boilerplate statement about having to come together or take action].
This evening, [spouse name] and I will do what I know every [likely relationship of those living to those killed] in America will do, which is [poignant statement relevant to likely status of those murdered], and we’ll remind each other how deeply we love one another. But there are families in [name or town or state] who cannot do that tonight. And they need all of us right now. In the hard days to come, that community needs us to be at our best as Americans. [boilerplate statement about having to come together or take action].
