There Have Been, On Average, 10 Mass Shootings In The U.S. Each Week This Year

Saeed Ahmed

May 10, 2021 / 10:02 am

When a man walked into a birthday party in Colorado Springs, Colo., over the weekend, killing six people and then himself, it was the deadliest mass shooting in the state since March, when a rampage at a grocery store left 10 people dead.

We're just 18 weeks into 2021, and already the U.S. has experienced 194 mass shootings. That averages out to about 10 a week.

The tally comes from the Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people are shot or killed, excluding the shooter. The full list can be found here.

While a rise in gun sales and divergence of some public health funding could be linked to the spike in gun violence in recent months, experts say it can be a challenge to isolate any single cause. And advocates against gun violence lament the limited legislative response from Washington so far.

Here are the 11 attacks that took place just this weekend alone:

Sunday, May 9

Colorado Springs, ColoradoA man opened fire at a birthday party in a mobile home park on the east side of Colorado Springs shortly after midnight, slaying six adults before killing himself. Children at the scene were unharmed, police said.

Newark, New JerseyTwo men and two women were shot on a street in Newark on Sunday afternoon, Newark police said. All four were reported to be in stable condition.

Phoenix A group of people attending an event at a Phoenix hotel got into an argument that led to gunfire. Police didn't say what prompted the argument. One man was killed and seven others were wounded in the shooting, the Arizona Republic reported.

Philadelphia

A shooting in the Olney neighborhood on Sunday afternoon left two people dead — a 17-year-old male and a 23-year-old-male — and injured three others, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported, citing police.

Citrus Heights, California

Four people were struck by gunfire after fights broke out at a bar in Citrus Heights, a city in Sacramento County, according to The Sacramento Bee.

Saturday, May 8

Oakland, CaliforniaSomeone fired shots at a group socializing at a lagoon in Oakland, injuring four people. Bullets also struck nearby buildings and parked cars, according to the East Bay Times.

DetroitFour people were shot in an alley behind a building early Saturday morning. Their injuries were non-life threatening.

Compton, CaliforniaCompton Sheriff's deputies heard shots fired and found two gunshot victims on Saturday. They were both pronounced dead at the scene. Soon after, deputies learned that two other gunshot victims had been taken to a hospital, one in critical condition.

Woodlawn, Maryland A man set his home on fire, forced his way into his neighbor's home, and shot and stabbed them, police said. He also allegedly shot two more neighbors as they came out of their home in the attack that took place just outside Baltimore. The attack claimed three victims, and the suspect also died after he was shot at by police.

MilwaukeeFour people were injured in a shooting Saturday afternoon. The victim ranged in ages from 23 to 45. They are expected to survive. Police have arrested two men in connection with the shooting.

Friday, May 7