A Florida Republican headquarters was riddled with bullet holes after coming under attack Monday by a gunman. Security at Republican offices were beefed up across the state in wake of the shooting which left numerous bullet holes in the windows and interior walls.
Had the shooting come just hours earlier, the building would have been filled with volunteers and party officials.
The League of Women Voters of Florida and the Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence called the incident “domestic terrorism.”
The incident comes Just a week after a man sent pipe bombs to Democrats across the nation.
Elected officials and political organizations condemned the attack. “The hatred that is consuming our state and country helps no one and hurts us all,” the groups said in a statement.
Gov. Rick Scott also condemned the shooting and thanked the officers who responded.
“Glad everyone at the Volusia County Republican headquarters is okay and that no one was inside when the shooting happened,” he tweeted.
State Rep. Patrick Henry (D-Daytona Beach) released a statement saying he was “angry” about the incident, which occurred after “one of the deadliest 72 hours in America.”
“Your party affiliation should never make you a target of gun violence,” he said.
Republican Party of Florida Chairman Blaise Ingoglia echoed Henry’s response, saying in a statement Monday afternoon the party “stand[s] against any type of violence against any volunteer, Republican or Democrat.”
“It’s unbelievable to me that we have reached a low in political discourse where volunteers for campaigns now have to fear for their safety,” he said. “People should have the right to exercise their right of free speech without fear of retaliation.”
The gunfire comes just days after Cesar Sayoc, 56, was arrested in Florida for allegedly mailing pipe bombs to a range of high-profile Democrats. He made his first federal court appearance Monday in Miami.
While Sayoc has been described by the media as a Republican, information coming to light may indicate he was an independent. One screen capture of information about the alleged bomber shows him listed as a Democrat.
