Marco della Cava and Mike Stucka
USA TODAY NETWORK
Mass shootings in Oregon increased to two in 2020 from one the year before, while nationally mass shootings jumped nearly 50% during a pandemic with crippling unemployment, violent protests and idle youth.
A USA TODAY analysis of Gun Violence Archive statistics from 2020 shows that mass shootings surged by 47% as many states reported unprecedented increases in weapons-related incidents. In 2020, the United States reported 611 mass shooting events that resulted in 513 deaths and 2,543 injuries. In 2019, there were 417 mass shootings with 465 deaths and 1,707 injured.
“Those numbers are sobering,” said Sarah Burd-Sharps, director of research at Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that works to reduce gun violence nationally. “There are lots of theories flying left and right as to why this happened and it’s too early to tell, but what’s clear is that it was a very deadly year.”
Mass shootings surge in Missouri as nation faces record high
Marco della Cava and Mike Stucka
USA TODAY NETWORK
Mass shootings in Missouri increased to 22 in 2020 from 18 the year before, while nationally mass shootings jumped nearly 50% during a pandemic with crippling unemployment, violent protests and idle youth.
In 2020, Missouri reported 22 mass shootings that killed 25 and injured 96. A year earlier, the state had 18 mass shootings that killed 20 and injured 60.
Among Missouri s deadliest shootings last year was one March 15 in Springfield that killed five and injured two. The state s bloodiest shootings included one Jan. 19 in Kansas City that killed two and injured 15.
Mass shootings fall in Kansas, but nation faces record high hutchnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from hutchnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Mass shootings fall in Georgia, but nation faces record high
Marco della Cava and Mike Stucka
USA TODAY NETWORK
Mass shootings in Georgia fell to 17 in 2020 from 19 the year before, while nationally mass shootings jumped nearly 50% during a pandemic with crippling unemployment, violent protests and idle youth.
In 2020, Georgia reported 17 mass shootings that killed 18 and injured 73. A year earlier, the state had 19 mass shootings that killed 16 and injured 74.
Among Georgia s deadliest shootings last year was one March 31 in Macon that killed three and injured one. The state s bloodiest shootings included one July 5 in Atlanta that killed two and injured 13.
With COVID-19 cases falling and vaccines rolling out, some criminologists hope a rebounding economy and reopened schools will drive down the national numbers in 2021.