Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), a 2016 Republican presidential candidate, said Thursday he was “saddened by the news from Charleston” and was “praying” for the victims of a mass shooting at a historic black church in Charleston, S.C that left nine dead.
Rubio’s tweet came after Wednesday’s fatal attack on the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church by a white gunman, identified by authorities as Dylann Roof.
Rubio’s tweet is below:
Saddened by the news from Charleston. The victims and their families are in my prayers today.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) June 18, 2015
Rubio, who spoke at the Faith & Freedom Coalition Policy Conference on Thursday, did not address the shootings during his speech.
Other presidential candidates who spoke at the event included Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). Both Paul and Cruz responded to the Charleston shootings during their speeches.
