Hawai’i flags lowered to honor victims at U.S., Australia shooting

Gov. Josh Green has ordered the United States and Hawaiʻi state flags to be flown at half-staff statewide to honor victims of the recent mass shootings at Brown University and Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.

The order applies to the Hawaiʻi State Capitol, all state offices and agencies, and Hawaiʻi National Guard facilities. Flags to be lowered immediately and remain at half-staff through sunset on Friday, Dec. 19.

In a statement, Green said the gesture reflects Hawaiʻi’s solidarity with the affected communities.

He added, “Lowering our flags is a gesture of shared sorrow and resolve — a moment to honor every life taken, support the families forever changed, and call for an end to the senseless violence that continues to wound our global community.”

Over the weekend, two mass shootings occurred.

On Saturday, Dec. 13, a mass shooting occurred at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, during the second day of final examination week for the fall semester. Two students were killed, and nine other students were wounded.

The victims were identified as MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, 18, and Ella Cook, 19, family members and officials confirmed in statements, according to NPR.

The following day, on Sunday, Dec. 14, a second mass shooting occurred in Australia.

According to NBC News, hundreds of people had gathered at Bondi Beach to mark the first day of the Jewish festival before the attackers struck at the event in Sydney.

The dead, who were ages 10 to 87, include French, Slovak, and Israeli citizens, officials have said.

At least 40 people were also wounded.