Another weekend in the United States, another string of deadly shootings. This time, at least six people lost their lives and dozens were injured across the country. From suburban Chicago to Southern California, the violence was widespread and devastating.
Experts have been warning for years about the rise in homicides and other violent crimes, but the pandemic seemed to have accelerated the trend. According to Daniel Nagin, a professor of public policy and statistics at Carnegie Mellon University, “there’s no question there’s been a spike in violence.” He attributes this to a variety of factors, including easy access to guns, less aggressive police tactics, and a decline in prosecutions for weapon offenses.
The shootings over the weekend were no exception. While none of them met the definition of a mass killing (defined as four or more deaths), many of them did result in multiple injuries. Here’s a rundown of what happened:
Willowbrook, Illinois: At least 23 people were shot, one fatally, in a parking lot where hundreds had gathered to celebrate Juneteenth. The peaceful gathering turned violent when someone opened fire into the crowd. Authorities are still investigating.
Washington State: Two people were killed and two others injured when a shooter began firing randomly at a crowd near a music festival. The suspect was apprehended after a confrontation with law enforcement.
Central Pennsylvania: One state trooper was killed and another critically injured in two separate shootings. The suspect, who had opened fire on a state police barracks, was later killed in a gunbattle with law enforcement.
St. Louis, Missouri: A 6-year-old girl was shot and killed while riding in a car with her dad. Authorities believe the shooter was targeting the father.
Baltimore, Maryland: Two people were killed and two others injured in a shooting at a cookout.
Southern California: Three people were injured in a shooting at a strip mall.
It’s a sad and frustrating reality that shootings like these have become all too common in the U.S. But it’s not enough to simply throw up our hands and accept this as the new normal. We need to take action to address the root causes of violence in our society. That means investing in mental health services, implementing sensible gun control measures, and addressing the systemic inequalities that drive so many people to resort to violence.
Until we do, weekends like this will continue to be all too familiar.
References
- https://uw-media.usatoday.com/embed/video/11473491002?placement=newsbreak
- https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2022/08/18/mass-killings-database-us-events-since-2006/9705311002/
- https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20230618/at-least-20-shot-1-fatally-near-willowbrook-after-juneteenth-celebration-turns-violent
- https://wgntv.com/news/chicagocrime/1-dead-20-wounded-in-shooting-in-unincorporated-willowbrook-police/
- https://twitter.com/BeyondWlandPNW/status/1670406329096359938
- https://www.king5.com/article/news/gorge-amphitheatre-active-shooter-lates-updates-grant-county-sheriffs-office/293-801cd412-0dc9-46f8-ab16-2185b28de8
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/01/28/who-commits-gun-violence-america-data-experts-say-all-ages/11123401002/
- https://www.kmov.com/2023/06/18/police-10-juveniles-shot-one-killed-overnight-downtown-st-louis-shooting/
- https://abc7.com/carson-shooting-house-party-shot/13394347/
- https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/%5C
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/06/18/willowbrook-illinois-mass-shooting/70333978007/
