This week, as the nation celebrated its independence and commemorated the founding of the United States, the country was marred by a string of tragic mass shootings. Families and friends gathered for festivities and watched fireworks displays, but several celebrations were overshadowed by gun violence, resulting in the loss of loved ones.
Between Friday evening and Wednesday morning, the US experienced at least 16 mass shootings, according to the Gun Violence Archive (GVA). These incidents spanned the nation, from Texas to Washington DC and Illinois, leaving at least 15 dead and 94 injured. This wave of violence occurred on the one-year anniversary of the Highland Park shooting, where seven people were killed during an Independence Day parade.
President Joe Biden responded to these events by urging Congress to enact common-sense gun control reforms.
Notable Incidents Over the Holiday Weekend:
Baltimore Block Party Shooting: A block party in Baltimore turned deadly when two shooters opened fire, killing two and injuring 28 others. The mass shooting occurred in the Brooklyn Homes area early Sunday morning. Aaliyah Gonzalez, 18, was pronounced dead at the scene, and Kylis Fagbemi, 20, died later at the hospital. Fourteen of the injured were minors. Despite police efforts, no arrests have been made.
Philadelphia Shooting: On the eve of July 4, five people were killed and several injured when a shooter in a ski mask and bulletproof vest opened fire in the Kingsessing neighborhood of Philadelphia. The shooter, Kimbrady Carriker, used an AR-15-style rifle and a 9mm handgun. Victims included Ralph Moralis, 59; Lashyd Merritt, 20; Dymir Stanton, 29; Daujan Brown, 15; and Joseph Wamah Jr, 31. Carriker has been arraigned on murder charges and is held without bail.
Fort Worth’s ComoFest Tragedy: In Fort Worth, an argument escalated into gunfire at ComoFest, resulting in three deaths and nine injuries. Victims included Cynthia Santos, 22, and Paul Willis, 18. The shooter remains unidentified, and no arrests have been made. This incident was one of four shootings in Fort Worth over the July 4 weekend.
Shreveport Block Party Shooting: A block party in Shreveport, Louisiana, ended with three dead and six injured after gunfire erupted on Pearl Avenue. Two victims were dead at the scene, with a third dying in the hospital. The number of shooters and the motive remain unclear.
Washington DC Drive-by Shooting: A drive-by shooting in Washington DC injured nine people, including two children, during Independence Day celebrations. A dark SUV drove through Meade Street, firing at residents. Victims, aged between nine and 17, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The shooting appears to have been targeted, and the search for the SUV is ongoing.
As America celebrated its independence, these tragic events highlighted the ongoing crisis of gun violence affecting communities across the country.
