The start of summer saw a tragic yet familiar trend in American cities plagued by gun violence, with mass shootings leaving numerous dead or injured at various locations. This included a party in Alabama, an entertainment district in Ohio, and a grocery store in Arkansas.
This marked the second consecutive weekend with a wave of mass shootings across the country, leading mayors in affected areas to plea for assistance.
In Michigan, a deputy was fatally shot while pursuing a suspected stolen vehicle, described as an ambush by the county sheriff. In Philadelphia, a police officer was critically injured after pulling over a car with four occupants.
In Montgomery, Alabama, a crowded party was targeted with hundreds of rounds fired early Sunday, resulting in nine people being wounded. Interim Police Chief John Hall reported more than 350 spent shell casings recovered at the scene.
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“This senseless violence simply must cease,” remarked Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed, grateful that there were no fatalities while also appealing for measures to prevent criminals from accessing guns.
One contributing factor to the rise in shootings with multiple casualties is the increased use of modified firearms capable of firing hundreds of shots, noted Jillian Snider, a lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.
“This is why there are more victims who are not directly involved in the initial confrontation,” she explained.
Gunfire also erupted on the main street of a popular restaurant and entertainment district near downtown Columbus, Ohio, early Sunday, resulting in ten injuries, one critical. The city’s mayor called for stronger action from state and federal authorities to curb gun violence and urged parents to monitor their children closely. Mayor Andrew Ginther condemned the violence as “outrageous, unacceptable, and in urgent need of cessation.”
While FBI figures show a decrease in overall violent crime in the U.S. following a spike during the pandemic, recent shootings might give a different perception, according to University of Miami criminologist Alex Piquero.
The summer season typically witnesses a surge in violence due to school breaks, increased social gatherings, and rising temperatures that can escalate tensions, explained Piquero. “This creates an environment conducive to violence,” he added.
Many of the shootings over the weekend occurred at large gatherings. In Dayton, Ohio, a 22-year-old woman was killed and six others injured in a drive-by shooting at a crowded vacant house. Six individuals were wounded at a park in Rochester, New York, after at least one person started shooting into a crowd.
Another deadly incident occurred in downtown St. Louis, where one man was killed and five others wounded after a fight led to gunfire. The weekend’s mass shootings began in Fordyce, Arkansas, where four individuals were killed and eleven injured, including the shooter, in a chaotic incident that sent shoppers and store employees into hiding.
