FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Principal Ty Thompson has put out an emotion-filled video in the wake of the shootings at his school Wednesday, telling his Eagles family to stay strong and be there for each other.
"My heart is breaking for the victims' families and our entire Stoneman Douglas community," Thompson said.
"Eagles, I promise you, I will hug each and every one of you as many times as you need and I will hold you as long as you need me to _ for all 3,300 of you and your families _ and we will get through this together," he said.
Thompson thanked officials and others who have reached out to help, but showed a special gratitude for the first responders to the massacre.
"I've never seen such a force of power get here in such a short amount of time," he said.
The healing process will be long, he acknowledged.
"We lost 17 lives on Valentine's Day. That's supposed to be the international Day of Love," Thompson said. "We're going to take the love that we got lost on Wednesday and we're going to spread that over the next days, weeks, months and maybe even years."
