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2015: the United States’ year of mass shootings

AAP

AAP

America is reeling from yet another mass shooting, with 14 people dead and 17 injured in a deadly attack in San Bernardino, California. But it’s just the latest in a string of massacres and mass murders plaguing the US.

There have been a total of 352 mass shootings in the country so far. This includes at least one mass shooting for 208 days in 2015, and 81 days of two or more mass shootings.

This means there have been more mass shootings than days in the year.

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While San Bernardino is the worst massacre in the US so far this year, 16 other shootings have led to the deaths of five or more people. According to the Reddit-based Mass Shooting Tracker, 2015 has already passed the 2013 and 2014 numbers.

The tracker classifies mass shootings as when “four or more people are shot in an event, or related series of events, likely without a cooling off period”.

February 27

Where: Tyrone, Missouri
Deaths: Eight people, one person injured
What happened: Gunman Joseph Aldridge went from house to house shooting residents, including four of his cousins. Authorities believe the massacre may have been triggered by Aldridge’s discovery of his mother’s death by natural causes.

APTOPIX Waco Shooting

Surviving gang members are detained by police in Waco. Photo: APTOPIX

May 17

Where: Waco, Texas
Deaths: Nine people, 18 people injured
What happened: A meeting between rival Texan biker gangs escalated into a deadly shootout in a Waco restaurant. As many as five different gangs were involved.

June 16

Where: Charleston, South Carolina
Deaths: Nine people
What happened: A 21-year-old man fatally shoots nine people, including a pastor, during a prayer service in an African-American church. Authorities believe the shooting was a hate crime.

Mourners at Emanuel African American Episcopal Church.

Mourners grieve for the Charleston shooting victims. Photo: AAP

August 8

Where: Houston, Texas
Deaths: Eight people
What happened: The gunman killed his former girlfriend, her husband and their six young children. The children were all aged between 6 and 13.

September 17

Where: Platte, South Dakota
Deaths: Six people
What happened: A father shot his four young children and his wife before turning the gun on himself. He had lost a $4.3 million contract at work.

Police quickly attended the scene, locking down the college. Photo: Twitter

Police lock down Umpqua Community College. Photo: Twitter

October 1

Where: Roseburg, Oregon
Deaths: Ten people, seven people injured
What happened: A gunman fatally shot 10 students at the Umpqua Community College. He was later killed by police.

November 15

Where: Anderson County, Texas
Deaths: Six people
What happened: The gunman befriended a group of camping relatives, helped them with their, had a drink with them, then shot them in and near the campsite.

1204shootings2015-update

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