RI Governor Orders Flags at Half-Staff in Honor of Chattanooga Victims

Flags in Rhode Island are to be flown at half-staff at state facilities and buildings on Tuesday in honor of the five military servicemembers who were killed last week in Chattanooga, TN, at the hand of a 24-year-old who attacked a recruiting office at a strip mall and a Navy and Marine Corps recruiting center.

Governor Gina Raimondo issued the directive that flags be flown at half-staff on Monday and said in a statement that “we all indebted to our military servicemen and women for their sacrifices, their dedication, and their duty to country.

“All Rhode Islanders mourn last week’s tragic acts of violence in Chattanooga. The families and loved ones of all those affected by this attack will be in our thoughts and prayers.”

Four Marines and a sailor died in the shootings.

Flags in Rhode Island are to be flown at half-staff at state facilities and buildings on Tuesday in honor of the five military servicemembers who were killed last week in Chattanooga, TN, at the hand of a 24-year-old who attacked a recruiting office at a strip mall and a nearby Navy and Marine Corps recruiting center.

Governor Gina Raimondo issued the directive that flags be flown at half-staff on Monday and said in a statement that “we all indebted to our military servicemen and women for their sacrifices, their dedication, and their duty to country.

“All Rhode Islanders mourn last week’s tragic acts of violence in Chattanooga. The families and loved ones of all those affected by this attack will be in our thoughts and prayers,” Raimondo said.

Four Marines and a sailor died in the shootings.

The gunman, Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez, was killed by police who responded to the senseless attacks.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now investigating and is attempting to determine Abdulazeez’s motive for the shootings.

On Monday, there was some criticism of the White House’s lack of a national order to lower flags to half-staff.

Stars and Stripes, the military’s newspaper, reported that White House Spokesman Josh Earnest said President Barack Obama “offered condolences last week” and may speak to veterans at a VFW conference Tuesday about the shooting, but he had no further comment.

“I don’t have more information about the status of the flag over the White House,” he said.

Governors in North Carolina, New Hampshire, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Florida, Louisiana and Massachusetts had issued similar orders as of Monday night.