America is on course to have its bloodiest year on record, as a shooting at a mall in Texas on Sunday brought the total number of mass shootings in the US to 199, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive.
The rate at which mass shootings in the United States have occurred this year far exceeds that of recent years. The country surpassed the grim milestone of more than 100 mass shootings on March 5 – nearly two weeks ahead of the date on which that figure was hit in 2022.
According to one report, at least 74 people have been killed or injured in school shootings, including the mass shooting in Nashville, Tennessee at The Covenant School in late March, which was the 129th mass shooting of the year.
The number of mass shootings in the United States in 2023 is outpacing the number in recent years
In a disturbing snippet, the gunman is seen laying dead outside another Allen store on a few dozen feet from the H&M. He is seen dressed in SWAT gear, with a semi-automatic rile at his side
The Nashville mass shooter, Audrey Hale, was one of just five female mass shooters in history.
In April, Connor Sturgeon, a young employee of the Old National Bank, shot up his place of work, bringing the total number of mass shootings in the US to 146.
The Louisville shooting left five dead, the Nashville shooting left seven victims deceased, including several children, while the shooting in Allen, Texas on Saturday left nine dead, making it one of the deadlier mass shootings of the year.
There have been at least 12 mass shootings in Texas in 2023.
A mass shooting in Monterey Park, California, in January, is so far the deadliest of the year. The tragic event saw 12 people – including the shooter – killed.
Eight people were killed during a shooting on January 4 in Cedar City, Utah, when Michael Haight killed his wife, their five children and his mother-in-law before turning the gun on himself
The Gun Violence Archive (GVA), a non-profit research database that tracks shootings across the US, defines a ‘mass shooting’ as those with a minimum of four victims shot, either injured or killed, not including any shooter.
A law enforcement officer carries a rifle as people are evacuated from the shopping center
A report by the US Secret Service published in January found that a history of mental health and a recent life crisis were common among attackers
As well as active-shooter incidents like those in Louisville, ‘mass shootings’ include accidental firearm incidents, armed robberies, familicide, home invasions and drive-bys, among others.
The GVA does not differentiate, for instance, between a gang shooting and a school shooting when they compile these statistics.
Deaths by gun are now so commonplace that ‘mass shootings’ – while undeniably traumatizing, attention-grabbing events – make up 1.1% of America’s firearm deaths in 2020. (Most gun-related fatalities are suicides).
But mass killings are increasing. Another database, published by USA Today, tracks a much narrower category known as ‘public mass killings’. These are defined as events in which four or more people are killed, not including the attacker, and in a public place, like a school or a bank.
The most public mass killings to ever occur in a single year in America has been ten.
The Allen massacre was this year’s fifth in the same number of months, meaning that the country is potentially on track to set a new record.
In total, so far in 2023, 14,672 people have died due to gun violence. That figure includes the more than 8,000 people that have died due to suicide by gun, as well as more than 6,000 who were the victims of homicide, murder, and unintentional shootings.
There are about 120 guns for every 100 Americans, according to the Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey.
No other nation has more civilian guns than people. In the US, 44 percent of US adults living in a household with a gun.
About one third of individuals own a gun personally, according to a November 2020 Gallup survey. And a third of US adults believe there would be less crime if more people owned guns.
Mass shootings also drive a demand for more guns, as many Americans become convinced they would be ‘safer’ if they personally owned a weapon.
On Saturday, the latest US mass shooting rocked the small city of Allen, Texas – a suburb about 20 miles outside of Dallas. A lone gunman began his rampage at roughly 3:30pm, forcing a mass evacuation and leaving residents desperate for answers.
Dashcam footage showed the moment the gunman, dressed in full SWAT garb, pull up to the outdoor outlet before opening fire on unsuspecting civilians, using an AR-15-style gun to mow down a crowd that included children.
Cops, meanwhile, for the most part kept quiet as to the exact extent of the tragedy – releasing sparse statements confirming several were killed, before specifying how many and whether a shooter was still at large.
However, disturbing footage captured at the scene – as well as multiple witness accounts – laid bare some of what had transpired, showing at least four bloodied bodies lying outside the H&M where the gunman was seen beginning his assault.
Mike Haight, 42, murdered his wife, Tausha Haight, 40, and their five children and mother-in-law in a horrific mass shooting in Utah
Chunli Zhao – a 66-year-old forklift operator at one of the farms targeted during the attack – allegedly carried out the attack over a dispute with his boss over a bill for damaged equipment
Saturday’s shooting arrived just shy of the one-year anniversary of the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas which saw nineteen children and two adults fatally shot by an 18-year-old gunman with an assault weapon.
‘We are horrified by today’s senseless tragedy and outraged by the violence that continues to plague our country,’ Allen Premium Outlets said in a statement Saturday night,
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and others affected by this heinous act. We are thankful for the police officer’s heroic actions and for the support of all the first responders.’
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said that his office has sent state officials from multiple agencies to aid Allen police with their investigation, including the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas Rangers.
‘Our hearts are with the people of Allen, Texas tonight during this unspeakable tragedy,’ said Abbott in his written statement.
‘I have been in contact with Mayor Fulk and DPS Director McCraw as well as other state and local leaders and offered the full support of the State of Texas to local officials to ensure all needed assistance and resources are swiftly deployed.’
Mayor Kevin Fulk, a lifelong resident of Allen, added: ‘Today is a tragic day for the city of Allen … We know the days ahead will be difficult and somber.’
Texas Senator Cruz also issued a statement that said he and his wife Heidi ‘ are praying for the families of the victims of the horrific mall shooting in Allen, Texas.
‘We pray also for the broader Collin County community that’s in shock from this tragedy,’ the Republican, an outspoken opponent of harsher gun laws, said.
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