BRUNSWICK, Maine – Maine Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense today released the following statements responding to the news that three people were shot and killed at a home in Oakland Wednesday night, before the gunman apparently killed himself. The gunman allegedly left a 4-year-old child at the scene unharmed.
While details are still developing, authorities have identified the victims as Amanda Bragg, 30, Amy Derosby, 28, and Michael Muzerolle, 29. Police have not speculated on the killer’s motive but did say the victims and the alleged gunman all lived together in one home.
STATEMENT FROM JUDI RICHARDSON, GUN VIOLENCE SURVIVOR AND CHIEF CITIZEN SPONSOR OF THE MAINE BACKGROUND CHECK INITIATIVE
“My heart is with the Oakland community and the families of the victims,” said Judi Richardson, a gun violence survivor and the chief citizen sponsor of the Maine Background Check Initiative. “I know the pain of a loved one being killed with a gun. When my 25 year-old daughter Darien was shot in her Portland apartment in 2010, my family was devastated.
“Today we mourn this tragedy and keep the victims’ family in our thoughts and prayers. And we must also call for action to address these tragedies. Enough is enough. As Mainers, we must stand up for reasonable policies that both respect the Second Amendment and make senseless tragedies like these less likely to occur.”
STATEMENT FROM JACKIE SARTORIS, A VOLUNTEER WITH THE MAINE CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE
“My thoughts and prayers are with the Oakland community today,” said Jackie Sartoris, of Brunswick, a volunteer with the Maine chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense. “We see tragic headlines like this one far too often in this country—and, even right here in Maine, gun violence can and does shatter families and communities. The reality is that 88 Americans are shot and killed every day and hundreds more injured. As a member of the Maine chapter of Moms Demand Action, I know that there is more we can do to keep guns out of dangerous hands and we will work tirelessly to keep our Maine communities safer from gun violence.”