In the United States, active shooter incidents are becoming more and more common. In 2021 alone, there were almost 700 mass shootings (the definition being used here is when four or more people are killed) and it seems that the frequency of these events is only increasing. Here is a look at some 2021 active shooter statistics. In this article, we’ll examine recent active shooter incidents, the multiple locations where they happened, and how many people were killed or injured.
We highly want to encourage your to have your business participate in an Active Shooter Safety Training so that you and your coworkers can be prepared in the event of an active shooter.
Active Shooter Illinois
The first active shooter incident on the list is the shooting that took place at Highland Park in Chicago, Illinois on July 4th, 2022. 7 people were killed and dozens more ranging from ages 8 to 85 were injured. Suspect Robert E. Crimo III, also known as “Bobby” age 21, was charged with seven counts of first-degree murder as well as numerous other felonies by law enforcement.
Chicago law enforcement stated that Robert E. Crimo III climbed atop a roof and fired at a crowd who was celebrating at a parade on the 4th of July.
Active Shooter Philadelphia
The next active shooter incident we’ll examine occurred on June 4th, 2022 in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the well-known “South Street.”
According to Philadelphia news 2 teenagers, 18 years old each, were charged for the killings of two bystanders in the active shooting on South Street that killed 3 and left 11 others injured.
Quadir Dukes-Hill is charged with murdering 24-year-old victim Alexis Quinn, while Nahjee Whittington is charged with murdering 22-year-old Kris Minners, Joanne Pescatore stated who is the Assistant District Attorney. Whittington was 4 days shy of her 18th birthday at the time of the accident, according to her mother.
Active Shooter Uvalde
At Robb Elementary located in Uvalde, Texas a gunman took the lives of nineteen children and two teachers on May 24, 2022.
Salvador Ramos, age 18 was known for fighting and threatening fellow students. According to classmates, he reportedly acted strangely, such as threatening classmates and claiming to have sliced scars into his face.
Besides the 21 who lost their life, 17 others were wounded in this tragic active shooting incident.
Active Shooter Buffalo
On May 14, 2022, 10 innocent people were killed and 23 others were wounded when a gunman opened fire in downtown Buffalo, New York at a popular supermarket in the area. A total of 13 victims were shot, 2 white and 11 black.
The gunman, Payton S. Gendron, 18 has pled not guilty and is awaiting trial. Officials are labeling this active shooting as a racially motivated hate crime.
Active Shooter Brooklyn
On April 12th, 2022 a suspect by the name of Frank R. James, opened fire in a subway car during the A.M, injuring 10 people. This incident has been one of the worst accidents to happen in regard to New York’s subway system.
At least 14 additional were injured, some of them choking on the smoke produced by the gunman’s two explosives he released before he began firing.
Fortunately, no one was killed in this tragic event.
Besides these recent active shooter events that happened in 2022, here are some of the worst active shootings ever recorded in United States history.
Active Shooter Las Vegas
In Las Vegas, Nevada on October 1st, 2017 a gunman named Stephen Paddock opened fire on a crowd of 22,000 people who were attending the Route 91 Harvest county music festival. This resulted in the deadliest mass shooting in modern United States history with 58 people killed and more than 500 injured.
Paddock was found dead by police after they had breached the door to his hotel room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
It is still unknown what Paddock’s motive was for carrying out this massacre.
Active Shooter Orlando
The Pulse nightclub shooting was a mass shooting that took place at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida on June 12th, 2016. The shooter, Omar Mateen, killed 49 people and wounded 53 others. This shooting is recognized as the deadliest mass shooting by a single person in United States history.
Mateen called 911 during the attack and pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). After a three-hour standoff, police killed Mateen.
The incident was both the deadliest mass shooting and the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil since the September 11th attacks in 2001.
Active Shooter Sandy Hook
On December 14th, 2012, 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot and killed 28 people, including 20 children between six and seven years old, and six adult staff members at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Lanza also killed his mother at her home before carrying out the massacre.
Lanza then shot and killed himself before police arrived at the scene.
Active Shooter Virginia Tech
On April 16th, 2007, Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 people and wounded 17 others in two separate attacks, approximately two hours apart, at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.
This shooting is the deadliest mass shooting carried out by a lone gunman and the deadliest mass shooting at a school or university in United States history.
Cho committed suicide after police arrived at the scene of the second attack. This shooting is recognized as the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in U.S history.
Active Shooter El Paso
On August 3rd, 2019, a mass shooting occurred at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas. The shooting killed 22 people and injured 24 others.
The suspected shooter was arrested and charged with capital murder.
This shooting is being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime.
Active Shooter Sutherland Springs
On November 5th, 2017, a mass shooting occurred at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. The shooting killed 26 people and wounded 22 others.
The suspected shooter died later from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after being chased by Citizens.
This shooting is recognized as the deadliest mass shooting at a place of worship in United States history.
Active Shooter Incidents – Conclusion
These are only a few of the deadliest active shooter incidents that have occurred in United States history due to gun violence.
Active shooter incidents are becoming more and more common in the United States. It is important to be aware of your surroundings and know what to do if you find yourself in an active shooter situation.
If you are ever in an active shooter situation, remember to:
- Run: If there is an escape path, try to take it.
- Hide: If escape is not possible, find a place to hide where the shooter is less likely to find you.
- Fight: As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the shooter.
Here is our full article on the Run-Hide-Fight strategy.
