The Fourth of July holiday saw a spate of gun violence across the United States, prompting President Joe Biden to renew his call for tougher gun laws.
What You Need To Know
- The Fourth of July holiday saw a spate of gun violence across the United States, prompting President Joe Biden to renew his call for tougher gun laws
- According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 20 mass shootings in the U.S. since July 1, resulting in 19 deaths and 118 injuries
- The shooting have been in Philadelphia; Fort Worth, Texas; Baltimore; Shreveport, Louisiana; Washington, D.C.; and elsewhere
- This Fourth of July marked the first anniversary of the mass shooting at a parade in Highland Park, Illinois, in which seven people were killed and 48 others were injured after, police said, a 21-year-old rooftop shooter opened fire on the crowd below
According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 20 mass shootings in the U.S. since July 1, resulting in 19 deaths and 118 injuries. The Gun Violence Archive defines a mass shooting as an incident resulting in at least four people being wounded or killed by gunfire.
“Over the last few days, our nation has once again endured a wave of tragic and senseless shootings in communities across America — from Philadelphia to Fort Worth, Baltimore to Lansing, Wichita to Chicago,” Biden said in a statement Tuesday. “Today, Jill and I grieve for those who have lost their lives and, as our nation celebrates Independence Day, we pray for the day when our communities will be free from gun violence.”
This Fourth of July marked the first anniversary of the mass shooting at a parade in Highland Park, Illinois, in which seven people were killed and 48 others were injured after, police said, a 21-year-old rooftop shooter opened fire on the crowd below.
Biden noted that, in response, Illinois banned assault-style rifles, like the one used in the parade shooting, and high-capacity magazines. He, however, added: “Their achievement will save lives. But it will not erase their grief. It will not bring back the seven Americans killed in Highland Park or heal the injuries and trauma that scores of others will continue to carry.”
The president called on lawmakers on the state and federal levels to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require safe storage of guns, end gun manufacturers’ immunity to liability in lawsuits and enact universal background checks.
Here is a look at some of mass shootings in recent days:
Philadelphia
On Monday night, a gunman wearing a ski mask and body armor opened fire using an assault-style rifle in a southwest Philadelphia neighborhood, police said. Five people, ages 15 to 59, were killed, and two others — children aged 2 and 13 — were hospitalized with injuries.
Officials say the gunman’s targets appear to have been selected at random.
A suspect, later identified by police as 40-year-old Kimbrady Carriker, was arrested after officers chased him on foot into an alley.
Carriker was charged Wednesday morning with five counts of murder and also faces charges of attempted murder, reckless endangerment, aggravated assault and carrying a firearm without a valid permit. He is being held without bail.
Baltimore
Two people were killed and 28 others were injured just after midnight Sunday morning in a shooting at a block party. Investigators are searching for multiple suspects, officials said.
Killed in the shooting were Aaliyah Gonzalez, 18, and Kylis Fagbemi, 20, the Baltimore Police Department said.
Twenty-three of the 28 people who were wounded are teenagers, and more than half are minors, police said.
In a separate mass shooting in Maryland early Wednesday morning, a 14-year-old boy was killed and six other people were wounded in a shooting at a block party in Salisbury, located near Delaware’s southern border. No arrest has been made.
Fort Worth, Texas
Late Monday night, three people were killed and eight others were injured when gunfire erupted following a neighborhood festival in Fort Worth.
Police have not identified any suspects but said “several unknown males were reported to have started firing into the crowd indiscriminately and then fled the scene.”
Two of the three victims killed have been identified. They were Cynthia Santos, 22, and Paul Willis, 18.
“My heart breaks for the victims, their loved ones, and the entire Como [neighborhood] community that works to build positivity and celebration in their community and our city,” Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker posted on social media.
It was not the only mass shooting in Fort Worth that night. In a separate incident, five people were injured after a fight involving a large group of people escalated and at least two people fired guns, police said. A suspect has been detained, police said.
Shreveport, Louisiana
Four people were killed and 10 others were injured, including one who is in critical condition, after gunfire erupted just after midnight Wednesday morning at a Fourth of July block party.
Police said they had a hard time reaching the victims because there was a large number of vehicles at the scene. Three of the victims died shortly after the shooting, and the body of the fourth was found by police early Wednesday morning, authorities said.
Police are investigating and have not announced any arrests.
Washington, D.C.
Nine people, including a 9-year-old and a 17-year-old, were injured in a mass shooting around 1 a.m. Wednesday in the nation’s capital, police said. The victims had been celebrating the Fourth of July when shots were fired from a dark SUV driving through the Deanwood neighborhood in northeast Washington, according to police.
Metropolitan Police Assistant Chief Leslie Parsons told reporters, “It appears that the shooting was targeted towards those residents and victims that were struck.”
None of the injuries are life-threatening, police said.
Police are in the early stages of their investigation and searching for the SUV.