Anthony Rizzo responds to deadly shooting at his alma mater: 'please stay strong'
Chicago Cubs star Anthony Rizzo addressed the mass shooting that has resulted in 17 reported fatalities at his alma mater, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., urging those impacted to “please stay strong.”
This is what Rizzo tweeted Wednesday afternoon.
Parkland and Coral Springs please stay strong! This is out of control and and our country is in desperate need for change. I hope In this darkest of times back home this brings everyone together and we can find love. You’re all in my prayers
— Anthony Rizzo (@ARizzo44) February 14, 2018
Rizzo, who attended the high school from 2003-2007, donated $150,000 to the school in November of 2017 to help fund improvements for their baseball and softball fields. That included the installation of lights for the upcoming season. The baseball field at the school is named after Rizzo.
On Thursday morning, Cubs beat writer Gordon Wittenmyer tweeted that Rizzo had left the Cubs’ spring training camp in Mesa, Arizona to head back home to Florida to be with friends and family. Rizzo also knew Aaron Feis, the MS Douglas assistant football coach who died after shielding students from gunfire.
Rizzo has left camp to head back home to Florida to be with family and community after shooting at alma mater.
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) February 15, 2018
Rizzo/family knew some of the victims, including football coach Aaron Feis, who was killed while shielding students from shooter. #parkland
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) February 15, 2018
Rizzo was drafted out of high school by the Boston Red Sox in 2007. He’s gone on to have a notable career in MLB, which includes three All-Star selections and a World Series championship with the Cubs in 2016.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Yahoo Sports Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
