'Colorado Hearts Are Heavy': Gov. Jared Polis, Other Colorado Elected Leaders React To Texas Elementary School Shooting

DENVER (CBS4)- Gov. Jared Polis released a statement after the elementary school shooting in Texas. At least 19 children and two adults were killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday.

The shooter, an 18-year-old male, also died and was believed to be killed by responding officers.

Authorities say the suspect killed his grandmother in the shooting.

Polis released this statement, "This morning I visited Mancos Elementary School and saw the joy on the faces of students and teachers in their last week of school as they looked forward to new adventures this summer and next school year. Now fourteen students and a teacher at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas had their joy ended forever from a cold blooded attack and their parents, friends and families won't ever hold them in their arms again or be able to watch them grow. Colorado's hearts are heavy for our friends in Texas and join in showing love for the families and community affected."

Flags on public buildings in Colorado have been ordered to fly at half staff immediately until May 28.

Colorado Congressman Jason Crow tweeted his response that read, "Thoughts and prayers will not bring these children back. And it clearly won't stop the next shooting. It never has. This is a policy problem. If you're an elected official who won't join me to fix this, sit down and shut up."

Sen. Michael Bennet tweeted, "14 kids and a teacher killed in Texas today. 10 Black Americans killed in New York 10 days ago. This horrific gun violence is uniquely American. We cannot become numb to it. We need to act and #EndGunViolence now."

Sen. John Hickenlooper tweeted, "As a parent, I weep. Our children deserve so much better than this nightmare. We need to protect our future from this senseless violence."

Sen. Lauren Boebert, a Republican, shared her condolences for the victims and their families saying, in part, "The loss of innocent life breaks my heart."

Colorado's Attorney General, Phil Weiser, calls for action:

"Once again, we are in shock and disbelief with the news of another mass shooting, this time at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. My heart goes out to the families grieving the unimaginable loss of a young child. We must find a path forward to curtail the scourge of gun violence, identify threats, and put protections in place to save lives. Just today, I was speaking with students and faculty at Golden High School who are promoting connections between peers and caring adults and building a safer community because they care for each other. We all can learn something from these kids. Schools should be a place of learning, growth, and support, not horrific gun violence. Enough is enough."

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