Wave of gun violence erupts at Halloween parties across the US

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Wave of gun violence erupts at Halloween parties across the US

Intermediate

Showbiz

October 30

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The United States recently witnessed a series of tragic incidents involving gunfire at Halloween parties, resulting in a significant loss of life and numerous injuries. The weekend prior to Halloween saw a disturbing spate of such incidents, with at least eight fatalities and over 50 people injured. These shocking events have raised

in the country.

One of the most distressing incidents occurred at a Halloween party in Texarkana, Texas, on the night of October 28th. A 20-year-old man, during a brawl, opened fire, resulting in three fatalities and three injuries. The suspect subsequently fled, and local law enforcement initiated a manhunt. In another incident, in Indianapolis, Indiana, gunfire erupted at a midnight Halloween party on the same date, claiming the life of a woman and injuring eight people, all aged between 16 and 22. The police discovered multiple firearms at the scene and have begun questioning individuals connected to the incident.

In Wichita, Kansas, a shooter entered a nightclub and discharged their weapon, leaving one person dead and two others injured. Authorities have yet to determine the whereabouts of the shooter, prompting the Wichita police to urge citizens to report any leads about the suspect. In Tampa, Florida, a gunfight broke out during a Halloween festival on October 28th, resulting in at least two fatalities and 18 hospitalizations. On the same day, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, six teenagers aged 15 to 19 were injured due to gunfire during a house party.

Chicago, the third-largest city in the United States, also witnessed multiple gun-related incidents over the weekend, with at least one fatality and 25 injuries. Chicago's gun violence rates are significantly higher than New York, with

, and Los Angeles, with a three-fold increase. The most noteworthy incident took place at a Halloween party in North Lawndale on the early morning of October 29th, leaving 15 people injured, two of whom are . Witnesses reported that the suspect, who attended the party but was denied entry, resorted to firing multiple shots into the building. The police have apprehended the suspect and are conducting an investigation.

These incidents occurred in the wake of

in Lewiston, Maine, in the northeastern United States, which claimed 18 lives. Maine is one of the states in the U.S. with , allowing individuals like Robert Card, the suspect in the Lewiston incident, to acquire firearms despite a history of mental health issues.

According to data from the Gun Violence Archive, a non-profit organization that monitors gun violence incidents in the United States, the number of shootings in the country has significantly increased since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, rising from 417 incidents in 2019 to 610 in 2020, 690 in 2021, and 647 in 2022. In 2023 alone, the United States has already recorded at least 580 cases of gun violence, resulting in over 15,000 fatalities and nearly 31,000 injuries, with 1,421 of the victims being adolescents.