Disclaimer: Sensitive and graphic details of gun violence are mentioned. Please read at your own discretion.
Throughout 2023, a series of mass shootings took place across the United States that claimed the lives of many innocent civilians. An article published by ABC News stated that over 40,000 people died from gun violence in America in 2023 alone at the hands of more than 632 mass shootings.
“I am horrified by the acceleration of gun violence and the number of mass shootings. It is becoming so common that people barely seem to bat an eye at the issue,” May Harding ‘24 said.“ I remember Sandy Hook in Connecticut because it was near my hometown. I can distinctly remember where I was and the hopelessness I felt as an eleven-year-old. Today, when mass shootings occur, it is difficult to keep track of all of the tragedies since they are relentlessly frequent.”
The Oct. 25 mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine was the deadliest shooting of 2023 and totaled some of the most fatalities in recent decades. Here are some of the incidents that happened during the last year, listed in order by the number of deaths:
A shooting spree in Lewiston, ME, on Oct. 25 left 18 dead and 13 injured. As mentioned by The Guardian, the initial attack happened at Just-In-Time Recreation, a bowling alley where a youth sports league was competing. Soon after, the same gunman opened fire at Schemengees Bar & Grille. Lewiston officials placed the city under lockdown and urged citizens to shelter-in-place until the suspect was located. A couple of days after the shooting, the suspect’s body was found near a recycling center in the city of Lisbon.
On Jan. 21, 12 people died and nine were injured after a shooting that occurred at a dance studio in Monterey Park, CA. According to NPR, the suspect targeted two dance studios that were 30 minutes apart. The gunman first entered into Star Dance Studio. Shortly thereafter, he went to Lai Lai Ballroom where two civilians were able to wrestle the weapon out of his hands. When police pulled over the suspect’s van, he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
On May 6, a gunman shot at people, cars and glass storefronts at the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, TX, sending hundreds of shoppers scrambling for cover throughout the mall. In a span of four minutes, the suspect killed nine people and hurt seven others. AP noted that the person, who used an AR-15 style rifle to conduct the shooting, was fatally shot by a police officer.
A former student of Covenant School, a private academy located in Nashville, TN, fired through a door outside the school and began shooting on the institution’s second floor on March 27. The shooter killed seven people and injured one other. The author of the article published in The New York Times wrote that the suspect was killed by police after they arrived on scene.
Within three days of the Monterey Park shooting in California, another spree occurred in Half Moon Bay, CA on Jan. 23. According to NPR, a man shot and killed four workers and wounded a fifth at California Terra Garden. After that, he went to Concord Farms, a previous place of employment, where he killed three of his former co-workers. The suspect’s motive for this shooting was reportedly in response to an imposed $100 fee for a damaged forklift at his job. The shooter was taken into custody without incident.
AP stated that not even a week into 2024, a school shooting in Iowa occurred. On Jan. 4, a 17-year old opened fire in Iowa, killing a sixth grader and injuring five others. One of those wounded was the principal, who died a short time later. The shooter also died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Harding wanted to share this advice with The Carroll News for controlling gun violence. “If you see something, say something. If you attend a gun show you suspect is not following proper sales protocol, report the vendor and show organizers to the state commission or law enforcement.”
