In brief
On Saturday night, a shooting at a birthday party in Stockton, California, led to the deaths of three children, ages 8, 9, and 14, along with a 21-year-old adult. The incident, which left eleven others wounded, is the latest in a series of mass killings that have occurred across the country in 2023. This year alone has seen 17 mass killings, with guns involved in most incidents. The community grapples with the aftermath as discussions around gun violence continue.
The latest mass killing in the United States occurred Saturday night when three children ages 8, 9, and 14, and a 21-year-old adult were killed in a shooting at a child’s birthday party in California. Eleven people were also wounded at a Stockton banquet hall.
This is the country’s 17th mass killing this year. The killings are tracked in a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.
At least 81 people have died this year in U.S. mass killings, which are defined as cases in which four or more people die within a 24-hour period, not including the killer — the same definition used by the FBI.
So far this year, 14 of 17 recorded mass killings (82%) have involved a firearm. Shooting victims make up 81% of the 3,234 victims of mass killings since 2006.
Last year ended with at least 165 deaths from at least 38 mass killings.
Here is a look at other U.S. mass killings this year:
SAINT HELENA ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, Oct. 12: Four people were killed and 15 others were injured in a shooting during a high school reunion party at a St. Helena Island bar. One man charged in the shooting and another man, who was killed, had a disagreement and started firing at each other, authorities said. Investigators found evidence of a third shooter and have said they expect more arrests.
