Among the many messages pouring in to the people of Marysville, Washington, where a tragic October 24 school shooting has resulted in three deaths, is a heartfelt note to its mayor from Newtown First Selectman Pat Llodra.

Mrs Llodra’s message, sent through the office of Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring, expresses acknowledgement of the gravity of the nation’s latest multi-casualty school incident, while conveying on behalf of the entire Newtown community, its collective supportive thoughts, prayers and sentiments.

“Our hearts break for your community as we learn of the tragedy that took place at Marysville-Pilchuck High School,” Mrs Llodra wrote. “The senseless loss of lives brought on by the disturbed and distraught emotions of a teenager is overwhelming in its sadness.”

On Friday, 15-year-old freshman Jaylen Fryberg pulled out a handgun in the cafeteria and started shooting. The victims were Zoe R. Galasso, 14, who died at the scene; Gia Soriano, 14, who died at a hospital Sunday night; Shaylee Chuckulnaskit, 14, who is in critical condition; and the shooter’s cousins, Nate Hatch, 14, and Andrew Fryberg, 15.

Andrew Fryberg remains in critical condition according to an October 28 Associated Press report. And Hatch, who was shot in the jaw, was upgraded to satisfactory condition one day earlier, while remaining in intensive care at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

The Snohomish County medical examiner on Monday ruled the shooter’s death a suicide.

In her note to Mayor Nehring, Newtown’s  first selectman shared how all too well, Newtown knows “the depths of grief such acts of violence bring to families who lose a loved one and we know, too, how such tragedy causes reverberations throughout a community.”

She said that Marysville, like Newtown, is a place where such an act of harm should never have occurred.

“One can only wonder how and why some young people turn to such violence as a remedy or antidote to personal despair,” Mrs Llodra continued. “Please know that you and all the residents of your community are in our prayers.”

Mrs Llodra urged residents of Marysville and the Marysville-Pilchuck High School community to have confidence, that they will be able “to face the awfulness of this event with courage and that the future of the community will remain bright and positive.”

In the days and months following the Sandy Hook School tragedy, Newtown received global outpourings of support and sympathy from many other communities that had experienced similar incidents. And since 12/14, Mrs Llodra has reacted to numerous other incidents in communities across the nation with messages of hope and condolence.

“I support you in this challenge of leading your community through this difficult time,” she directed to Mayor Nehring. “If I can be helpful in any way, please make contact. You and I, along with other leaders of communities where school-based shootings and deaths have occurred, are members of a small fraternity.

Sadly, Mrs Llodra acknowledged that community leaders like her and Mayor Nehring “learn from each other and provide that helping-hand in a way that only those who have experienced this awfulness can truly fathom.”