Obama: I’m ‘heartbroken’ for the families of Florida victims

President Obama said he is “heartbroken” for the families of the victims in Friday’s shooting at at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport in Florida.

“I don’t want to comment on it other than just to say how heartbroken we are for the families who’ve been affected,” Obama said in an interview with ABC News that aired Friday night, when asked if the shooting was an act of terrorism.

{mosads}A gunman opened fire at the airport Friday afternoon, leaving five dead and eight others injured, according to the local sheriff’s office.

“These kinds of tragedies have happened too often during the years that I’ve been president,” Obama said. “The pain, the grief, the shock that they must be going through is enormous.”

“I think we’ll find out over the next 24 hours exactly how this happened and what motivated this individual,” Obama added.

The White House said in a statement that Obama has spoken with Florida Gov. Rick Scott about the shooting. 

“The President, on behalf of the American people, extended his sincere condolences to the families and other loved ones of those killed and noted that his thoughts and prayers are with the wounded. He added that federal authorities will continue to assist the ongoing investigation into this horrific shooting,” National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said.