Five innocent women were ruthlessly murdered in Sebring this week, after a 21-year-old gunman opened fire inside a bank and barricaded himself inside. First responders rushed to the scene where a negotiation team attempted to persuade the gunman to surrender.

After negotiation attempts failed, a Highlands County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team burst into the bank and arrested the suspect. The suspect is facing five counts of first-degree murder in connection to the mass shooting.

Once news of the attack broke, I called Sebring Police Chief Karl Hoglund, Highlands County Sheriff Paul Blackman and State Attorney Brian Haas to offer any and all support our office could provide. We immediately sent victim advocates to the scene—and the director of our Division of Victim Services and I headed to Sebring to help coordinate services for the families of the shooting victims.

The Division of Victim Services provides assistance and benefits to crime victims and their families. Services provided through the division include grief counseling, assistance with medical bills and covering loss of life expenses.

Grieving with the family members hours after they learned that their loved ones were not coming home, broke my heart. My heart still breaks for them. My focus is on helping these family members receive the support they need in this extremely difficult time, and we will continue to provide support through the Division of Victims Services.

My office also stands ready to assist the 10th Judicial Circuit as they deliberate and prepare for the prosecution of this case.

Please continue to pray for everyone affected by this attack, the first responders who rushed to the scene and the entire Sebring community.