Patrick Dempsey mourns Maine mass shooting victims in his hometown: 'Heartbroken'
Dominique Charriau/WireImage Patrick Dempsey
Actor Patrick Dempsey has shared an emotional tribute to the victims of Wednesday's mass shooting in Maine, mourning those who died during the massacre in his hometown of Lewiston.
"I am shocked and deeply saddened by last night's tragedy in my hometown, Lewiston," the 57-year-old Grey's Anatomy star wrote Thursday on Instagram. "Maine's great strength is its sense of community, and now we are being asked to come together to support everyone that has been devastated by this senseless act. My family and I are heartbroken for the victims, their families, and the community."
Dempsey's statement comes amid an ongoing shelter-in-place order covering 700 square miles in Maine, reports CNN, as officials conduct a region-wide manhunt to find the man who killed 18 people and injured 13 more Wednesday night at a local bowling alley and a restaurant.
The Lewiston shooting is the deadliest mass shooting in the United States since the May 2022 shooting in Uvalde, Tex., an incident that prompted an emotional statement from Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey, who is from the small town.
"Once again, we have tragically proven that we are failing to be responsible for the rights our freedom grants us," the Dallas Buyers Club star tweeted, referencing the 18-year-old gunman who entered Robb Elementary and killed students and their teachers in America's worst school shooting since the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary massacre. "The true call to action now is for every American to take a longer and deeper look in the mirror, and ask ourselves, 'What is it that we truly value? How do we repair the problem? What small sacrifices can we individually take today to preserve a healthier and safer nation, state, and neighborhood tomorrow?' We cannot exhale once again, make excuses, and accept these tragic realities as the status quo."
Read Dempsey's statement on the Maine shooting above.
Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.
Related content:
