Bells ring in RI for shooting victims

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP/WPRI) — Rhode Island is remembering the victims of the Connecticut school shooting with a "Day of Mourning."

Gov. Lincoln Chafee was one of several governors across the nation to call for a day to reflect today, a week after 20 children and six adults were shot to death at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

Chafee called for the moment of silence at 9:30 a.m. in memory of the victims.

Churches in Providence tolled their bells either 26 or 28 times. The additional two times were to represent the other two people killed that day: the shooter and his mother.

Chafee says the past week has been one "of great pain" for Newtown, for Connecticut and for the nation.

“Each day, we see reports of funeral services for children taken from their families too soon and educators who lost their lives trying to protect their precious students. It is my hope that Rhode Island’s collective moment of reflection and remembrance this coming Friday will serve as a statewide demonstration of solidary with our neighboring state and bring some small measure of comfort to its people during this trying time. The victims’ families and all who have suffered as a result of this tragedy remain in the thoughts and prayers of the citizens of Rhode Island.”

Connecticut is also holding a "Day of Mourning," and other states are following suit.

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