The Year in Mass Shootings
Quoted Text
Since 1968, at least 1.4 million Americans have been
killed by guns—more than all the U.S.'s accumulated
war dead in that same period.
Any way you look at it, 2013 was another killer year for arms manufacturers and armed bullies.
There is much debate over how to define a "mass shooting." The FBI classifies a mass murder
as four fatalities, not including the killer. Mother Jones uses that, plus several situational criteria,
for a mass shooting. The Redditors at "Guns Are Cool" considers any time four people are shot
(not killed) a mass shooting, and with good reason: "The most obscene incidents of gun violence
usually do not make the mainstream news at all."
January
7 - Tulsa, Oklahoma: Four women ranging in ages from 23 to 55 were found in their apartment
shot dead with their hands tied behind their backs. A pair of brothers was arrested for allegedly
robbing and killing them.
19 - Albuquerque, New Mexico: 15-year-old Nehemiah Gringo allegedly used an AR-15 to kill his
entire family—his gang-member-turned-preacher father, his mother, a 9-year-old brother, and
two sisters, ages 5 and 2. He also reportedly had plans to shoot up a Walmart.
March
13 - Herkimer, New York: A 64-year-old "loner" died in a gun-battle with police after he
killed four at a barbershop and oil-lube shop. He also killed a 2-year-old police dog, Ape,
before succumbing.
April
18 - Akron, Ohio: Two men and two women ranging in ages from 19 to 23 were lined up
in their basement and shot in the head point-blank. Two men have been arrested in
connection with the murders.
22 - Federal Way, Washington: A man with a carry license killed his girlfriend, then shot
three other neighbors in her apartment complex to death before himself being killed by
shots from eight police officers.
24 - Manchester, Illinois: A man angered over a custody dispute killed five of his daughter's
mother's family members in their home, then led police on a high-speed chase. He later died
in officers' custody.
28 - Ottawa, Kansas: A man allegedly murdered his best friend and a roommate before
raping the best friend's girlfriend, then shooting her and her 18-month-old daughter to
death. The shooter, who awaits trial, says he "ain't never hurt no man that didn't have it
coming."
May
11 - Waynesville, Indiana: Four people were shot in their rural home. After a search of the
home turned up meth, police concluded the killings were drug-related. The following month,
a suspect who was already in jail was arrested for the murders.
13 - Fernley, Nevada: A man killed two couples in their homes over Mother's Day weekend,
burning their houses. He also slew a newspaper deliveryman and stole his truck.
June
7 - Santa Monica, California: An emotionally troubled 23-year-old with 1,300 rounds of
ammunition killed his father and brother before going on a rampage that killed three
more at Santa Monica College. The gunman was killed on campus by police.
July
26 - Hialeah, Florida: A workout enthusiast under scrutiny for sending abusive emails
to an ex-employer killed the husband-and-wife managers of his apartment, then murdered
four more neighbors before taking hostages. He was killed by police; the hostages were
unharmed.
26 - Clarksburg, West Virginia: A gunman killed two in a suspected drug house, then while
fleeing shot and killed a 70-year-old man and his 47-year-old son who were in the
neighborhood to deliver the local paper.
August
7 - Dallas, Texas: A former teacher and football coach killed his girlfriend, estranged wife,
and two of their children before police arrested him.
14 - Oklahoma City: A "weird" 40-year-old man killed his mother, sister, niece, and a
7-month-old nephew with a .380 pistol. He currently awaits trial.
September
11 - Crab Orchard, Tennessee: A man and a woman were arrested for killing four people,
ages 16 to 22, in their car during a robbery that followed a botched marijuana deal.
16 - Washington, D.C.: A military contractor who claimed to hear voices murdered 12
ex-coworkers with a sawed-off shotgun at the federal Navy Yard before he was killed
by police.
20 - Rice, Texas: A woman killed her husband, their three sons, and herself in their
apartment. The husband had been arrested for a domestic violence charge two weeks
before.
October
9 - Paris, Texas: Four people were found dead in a home; it's not yet clear what transpired
or who killed them.
26 - Phoenix, Arizona: A man who was allegedly thrown into a rage over the neighbors' two
barking dogs killed the animals, then his four neighbors, then himself with a pump-action
shotgun.
28 - Terrell, Texas: A man who "appeared to be intoxicated" killed five people, including
a convenience store clerk, at four locations before police caught him.
29 - Callison, South Carolina: A man killed his ex-girlfriend, her parents, and two of her
children before taking his own life.
November
7 - Jacksonville, Florida: Two men and their girlfriends were killed in what appeared to
be a planned drive-by shooting. The suspects are at large.
23 - Tulsa, Oklahoma: Four people were killed in a suspected meth house. No suspects
have been arrested.
December
1 - Topeka, Kansas: Four people were killed at a house in the town's southwest section.
No suspects have been named.
3 - Alma, Arkansas: After arriving home with them, a man killed his daughter's boyfriend
in the car, then killed his 4-month-old grandson while he lay in his car seat. He pursued
his daughter and four-year-old granddaughter into the backyard, killing the granddaughter
before turning the gun on himself.
3 - Erwin, Tennessee: A man with a record of domestic unrest killed his wife, son, and
daughter before committing suicide.
8 - Manchester, Connecticut: A man killed his ex-girlfriend and two friends, then fled with
the couple's 13-month-old child. When confronted outside by police, he set the child down
on the ground and fatally shot himself.