ZCZC
BFF-31
US-CRIME-VIRGINIA
Deadliest recent mass shootings in the United States
PARIS, June 1, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Twelve people were killed when a gunman
opened fire at a government building complex in the US state of Virginia on
Friday. Here are of some of some of the deadliest recent mass shootings in
the United States:
– Vegas concert: 58 killed –
A 64-year-old retired accountant shoots down from his hotel room at a
crowd attending an outdoor country music concert on October 1, 2017, killing
58 people and wounding around 550 before committing suicide. It is the worst
mass shooting in modern US history.
– Florida club: 49 killed –
A heavily-armed gunman opens fire inside a gay nightclub in the city of
Orlando on June 12, 2016, killing 49 people. The attacker is killed in a
shootout with police. He pledges allegiance to the Islamic State group, which
later claims responsibility.
– Sandy Hook: 26 killed –
A 20-year-old man kills his mother in Newtown, Connecticut, in December
2012 before blasting his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School and shooting
dead 20 six- and seven-year old children and six adults. He commits suicide.
– Texas church: 25 killed –
A 26-year-old man who was court-martialed while in the Air Force shoots
dead 25 worshippers during Sunday services and wounds at least 20 others at a
Baptist church in the small rural community of Sutherland Springs outside San
Antonio, Texas, on November 5, 2017. The shooter flees and is later found
dead in his car with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
– Florida high school: 17 dead –
A 19-year-old former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who
was expelled for disciplinary reasons returns to the school in Parkland,
Florida, and opens fire on February 14, 2018, killing 14 students and three
adult staff members.
– California office party: 14 dead –
A radicalised Muslim couple storm a Christmas office party at a social
services centre in San Bernardino in December 2015 and gun down 14 people,
wounding 22 others. They are shot dead by police.
– California bar: 12 dead –
On November 7, 2018 a 28-year-old US Marine Corps combat veteran opens
fire in a crowded country music bar in California, killing 12 people. The
assailant, identified as Ian David Long, a troubled former machine gunner who
served a tour in Afghanistan, dies of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
– Colorado cinema: 12 dead –
A young man wearing body armour opens fire in a movie theatre showing a
late-night premiere of a Batman film in Aurora, Colorado in July 2012. Twelve
people are killed and 70 wounded. He is sentenced to life in prison.
– Synagogue in Pittsburgh: 11 dead –
On October 27, 2018, a 46-year-old gunman bursts into the Tree of Life
synagogue in Pittsburg during Shabbat services, killing eleven people. He
reportedly yells “All Jews must die!” during the attack. Robert Bowers, who
was arrested at the shooting scene, is indicted on 29 counts, some of which
carry the death penalty.
– High school in Santa Fe: 10 dead –
A 17-year-old student armed with a shotgun and a revolver opens fire just
as classes are starting at his school in Santa Fe, Texas, on May 18, 2018,
killing ten people including eight students. The student, who authorities say
used weapons legally owned by his father, is taken into custody on murder
charges.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1646 hrs