Tallahassee, Florida witnessed a tragic early Sunday morning shooting at a shopping center that left four people injured, with two fatalities, as reported by local authorities. This incident added to Florida’s alarming record for mass shootings in the country, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive. The tragic event took place amidst the backdrop of widespread destruction and power outages caused by multiple tornado strikes that hit the city just two days prior.
The shooting incident in Tallahassee brought the total number of mass shootings in Florida to 14 so far this year, matching the tally from the same period last year. This surge has propelled Florida to the top of the list for mass shootings in the nation, particularly after a series of three mass shootings occurring in the state over just three days last month. The gravity of the situation is further emphasized by the fact that as of May 11, there have been 152 mass shootings across the United States, a decrease compared to the numbers reported at the same time in the previous year.
Despite the concerning rise in mass shootings across the country, there have been some positive developments noted in the data. The Gun Violence Archive reported an overall 8-10% decrease in deaths and injuries from gun violence in 2023 compared to the previous year, with certain cities even experiencing reductions of over 20%. Additionally, the FBI’s data indicated a decline in violent crime, robberies, and burglaries in 2023, reflecting a broader trend of diminishing criminal activities.
The criteria for defining a mass shooting vary among different sources. While the GVA and the Congressional Research Service define a mass shooting as an incident where four or more individuals are shot, USA TODAY considers an incident involving at least four people being shot as a mass shooting, irrespective of any fatalities. On the other hand, the FBI categorizes incidents with four or more victims being killed as mass killings or mass murder, drawing a distinction that includes various intentional means of causing fatalities.
It is crucial to understand the methodology behind the data reported on mass shootings. The GVA gathers information from a variety of sources, including law enforcement, government, and media outlets, while the CDC relies on death certificates to track gun-related deaths. Discrepancies in the numbers reported by different agencies may arise due to variations in data collection methods and verification processes. The complexities surrounding the issue of mass shootings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address and prevent such tragic events in the future.