Hochul ‘deeply saddened’ on passing of National Guard members

Gov. Kathy Hochul released a statement on Sunday morning, after two people with Capital Region ties were killed in a military helicopter near the southern border with Mexico on Friday.

As NewsChannel 13 has been reporting, the victims are Casey Frankoski, a Rensselaer native and graduate of Columbia High School, and New York State Trooper John Grassia III of Albany County.

“I am deeply saddened at the passing of two members of the New York National Guard and a member of the New York State Police during a federal deployment along our southern border. There is no greater calling than service to and defense of your country. I join the members of our National Guard and State Police, and the entire State of New York, in mourning this tragic loss. Our deepest sympathies are with the families and friends of those killed, and I remain incredibly grateful for the many service men and women who put themselves at risk every day to ensure the security of our state and our nation.”

A third victim, who is from Rensselaer County, was injured.