Yahoo Sports LeBron James, Jared Goff, other athletes react to Thousand Oaks mass shooting
Just as Pittsburgh athletes did a few weeks ago when a gunman murdered 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue, Los Angeles athletes are sharing messages of support, sympathy and love after a 28-year-old Marine veteran opened fire and murdered 12 people at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, California.
Thousand Oaks is part of the greater Los Angeles area, about 40 miles from downtown. But the shooting hits close to home for the Los Angeles Rams — their practice facility is in Thousand Oaks, just five miles from the Borderline Bar & Grill. A number of Rams players tweeted about the shooting, offering thoughts and prayers for the victims, their families and the Thousand Oaks community.
Heartbroken for our community. Thinking about everyone involved as well as friends and family of the victims. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers
— Jared Goff (@JaredGoff16) November 8, 2018
Heartbroken. Thoughts and prayers are with the people of this community, and those that have lost loved ones.
— Cooper Kupp (@CooperKupp) November 8, 2018
Praying comfort and healing to those affected by this senseless shooting. Thank you to the first responders who put their lives on the line to protect and serve us every day.
Thousand Oaks is my home; I will do everything in my power to help those in need of support.— Johnny Hekker (@JHekker) November 8, 2018
Heart broken this morning! I’m just sorry to those affected. I don’t have words that I feel can help. But I promise to find a way to help support our community through this tragedy!
🙏🏼!— Andrew Whitworth (@awhitworth77) November 8, 2018
Prayers go out to everyone affected by the senseless acts of violence last night 🙏🏾
— Ogbo Okoronkwo (@OgboOkoronkwo) November 8, 2018
Devastated for this community…Thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this senseless tragedy.
— Morgan Fox (@AyyyeeeMoFox) November 8, 2018
The Rams tweeted their own message of support, and were joined by the Chargers, Lakers, Dodgers, Angels and Kings.
Statement from the Los Angeles Rams: pic.twitter.com/sFBBsOsKWW
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) November 8, 2018
— Los Angeles Chargers (@Chargers) November 8, 2018
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the victims, families and those affected by the terrible tragedy last night in Thousand Oaks, CA.
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 8, 2018
Our thoughts are with the victims and families affected by the tragic shooting in Thousand Oaks last night.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) November 8, 2018
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected by last night’s tragedy in Thousand Oaks. We offer our sympathy to all of the victims, families, first responders, and members of the surrounding community.
— Angels (@Angels) November 8, 2018
The entire LA Kings organization is deeply shaken by this senseless and horrific act on one of our local communities. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. We wish all the people of Thousands Oaks strength and peace and we share in their sadness and grief.
— LA Kings (@LAKings) November 8, 2018
Players for those teams chimed in, as well as other athletes.
My thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost loved ones last night in Thousand Oaks, CA!!!! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾💯 #LoveIsStrongerThanHate💪🏾
— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 8, 2018
Waking up to evil & hate sucks! Praying for the families effected by the shooting in Thousand Oaks this morning.
— Cardale Jones (@Cardale7_) November 8, 2018
Heartbreaking news of the shooting last night in Thousand Oaks. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims, Sergeant Ron Helus and their families. pic.twitter.com/6WyVmWCCMd
— Justin Turner (@redturn2) November 8, 2018
Prayers to the families in Thousand Oaks 🙏🏽
— Javale McGee (@JaValeMcGee) November 8, 2018
No words. Families devastated by violence (again). My thoughts are with the victims and families affected by the tragic shooting in Thousand Oaks. 🙏🏼😞 https://t.co/81J76njmXC
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) November 8, 2018
Devastating to hear about the senseless act of violence in Thousand Oaks. Prayers up for everyone involved 🙌🏾🙏🏾
— Quincy Pondexter (@QuincyPondexter) November 8, 2018
The Rams play the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, and they also released a message of support for the Thousand Oaks community.
.@Seahawks statement on the tragedy in Thousand Oaks, Calif. pic.twitter.com/daJaUpnUUV
— Seahawks PR (@seahawksPR) November 8, 2018
The game will be in Los Angeles, and while it’s not known yet if the Rams will do anything to honor the victims, team COO Kevin Demoff said on the NFL Network that it’s more than a possibility.
“I would think that would be appropriate given the situation. You saw that in Pittsburgh a couple weeks ago, what the Steelers went through, an unfortunate tragedy that’s become too common for us in the NFL. We want to make sure we honor the victims in the right way on Sunday.”
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Liz Roscher is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at lizroscher@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter at @lizroscher.
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