# 2017 Mass Killings in the United States **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 7, 2017, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508 "2017-01-07T03:06:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508/21 "2017-02-08T15:15:16Z")
Less than 2% of the murders that happen in the US are from _mass shootings_. There are about 15x more people that accidently drown each year in the US than are killed in mass shootings. Perspective sometimes sheds light on priorities. Sometimes it doesn’t. Encourage others to learn to swim! ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508/22 "2017-02-08T17:10:10Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Less than 2% of the murders that happen in the US are from _mass shootings_. There are about 15x more people that accidently drown each year in the US than are killed in mass shootings. Perspective sometimes sheds light on priorities. Sometimes it doesn’t. > > Encourage others to learn to swim! I think most adults who drown do know how to swim, but overestimate their ability. People who can’t swim stay our of the water. An old adage that sailors and fishermen never learn to swim – it takes too long to die. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508/23 "2017-02-08T19:03:06Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > > [@Omar Little](#): > > > > Less than 2% of the murders that happen in the US are from mass shootings. There are about 15x more people that accidently drown each year in the US than are killed in mass shootings. Perspective sometimes sheds light on priorities. Sometimes it doesn’t. > > > > Encourage others to learn to swim! > > I think most adults who drown do know how to swim, but overestimate their ability. People who can’t swim stay our of the water. > > An old adage that sailors and fishermen never learn to swim – it takes too long to die. So, if you are ever in a shipwreck, shoot the survivors. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508/24 "2017-02-08T20:11:26Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So, if you are ever in a shipwreck, shoot the survivors. Well, you might get yourself on **Paul** ’s list, if nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508/25 "2017-02-08T20:45:28Z")
depends if it’s in international waters or not. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508/26 "2017-02-21T13:40:24Z")
#7 is now reported as a shooting, adding #8 1. 1 January 2017, Lexington County, SC 4 killed (shot) ([http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/authorities-killed-home-apparent-murder-suicide-44509341](http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/authorities-killed-home-apparent-murder-suicide-44509341)) 2. 5 January 2017, Hubbard, OR 5 killed (multiple) ([Sheriff: Four bodies found in burned Hubbard home died of gunshot wounds to the head | KATU](http://katu.com/news/local/sheriff-four-bodies-found-in-burned-hubbard-home-died-of-gunshot-wounds-to-the-head)) 3. 6 January 2017 Fort Lauderdale. FL 5 killed (shot) ([BSO: 5 dead, 6 hurt after shooting at FLL – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale](http://wsvn.com/news/local/multiple-people-shot-at-fort-lauderdale-hollywood-intl-airport/)) 4. 10 January 2017 Colorado Springs, CO 4 killed (shot) ([Colorado Springs police find man, woman and 2 children dead in murder-suicide – The Denver Post](http://www.denverpost.com/2017/01/11/colorado-springs-bodies-found/)) 5. 28 January 2017 Kitsnap County, WA 4 killed (Not reported) ([http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article130005409.html](http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article130005409.html)) 6. 6 February 2017 Yazoo City MS 4 killed (Shot) ([http://wjtv.com/2017/02/06/breaking-4-people-shot-and-killed-in-yazoo-city/](http://wjtv.com/2017/02/06/breaking-4-people-shot-and-killed-in-yazoo-city/)) 7. 7 February 2017 Morris OK 4 killed (Shot) ([Okmulgee Co. sheriff suspects murder-suicide after Morris family of 4 found dead](http://ktul.com/news/local/okmulgee-co-sheriff-suspects-murder-suicide-after-morris-family-of-4-found-dead)) 8. 19 February 2017 Preston ID 4 killed (shot) ([Police: Idaho father shot, killed 3 kids before turning gun on himself | KSL.com](https://www.ksl.com/?sid=43246828&nid=157)) Events 8 Killed 40 ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508/27 "2017-02-22T15:30:55Z")
1. 22 February 2017 Toomsuba MS4 dead (shot) ([3 women, 5-year-old boy shot to death in Mississippi - al.com](http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/02/3_women_5-year-old_boy_shot_to.html)) Events 9 Killed 38 ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508/28 "2017-02-22T17:49:05Z")
Hi, Paul, I appreciate that you do this. It really brings the point home about spontaneous gun violence in our country. Just wanted to point out I’m confused by the math between post numbers 26 and 27. If there were 8 events with a total of 40 deaths, wouldn’t the total after 9 events with 4 deaths be 44 deaths total, not 38? Or have I missed something? ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508/29 "2017-02-22T18:20:04Z")
I kind of think it’s disingenuous to count “targeted” actions like the one posted today, and the father who killed his family as “spontaneous” gun violence equivalent to Sandy Hook. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508/30 "2017-02-22T18:33:50Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I kind of think it’s disingenuous to count “targeted” actions like the one posted today, and the father who killed his family as “spontaneous” gun violence equivalent to Sandy Hook. Yeah, the victims are dead in a whole different way. Paul did not claim that the list he is making is about “spontaneous”, and aspen glow did not claim that all the examples were “spontaneous”, just that it highlights how much there are. Also, do you have more info on the one from today? I don’t know that it was spontaneous, but it seems to early to tell that it was targeted from that article. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508/31 "2017-02-22T18:48:02Z")
Yeah, these things just happen. Right out of the blue here, all the time; one minute a family is playing, chatting, going about their business: then _Bamm_ ! All dead. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508/32 "2017-02-22T20:44:02Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I kind of think it’s disingenuous to count “targeted” actions like the one posted today, and the father who killed his family as “spontaneous” gun violence equivalent to Sandy Hook. I’m obviously not speaking for **Paul in Qatar** , and he has defined his own methodology above. I used the word, ‘spontaneous,’ because so many of these types of killings occur as a result of little or no planning. But by no means all. Either way, I was simply trying to get the correct number of dead to date. What is disingenuous, perhaps, is seizing on a word I used in order to define what Paul himself has well defined in his own words. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508/33 "2017-03-07T14:09:47Z")
1. 1 January 2017, Lexington County, SC 4 killed (shot) ([http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/authorities-killed-home-apparent-murder-suicide-44509341](http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/authorities-killed-home-apparent-murder-suicide-44509341)) 2. 5 January 2017, Hubbard, OR 5 killed (multiple) ([Sheriff: Four bodies found in burned Hubbard home died of gunshot wounds to the head | KATU](http://katu.com/news/local/sheriff-four-bodies-found-in-burned-hubbard-home-died-of-gunshot-wounds-to-the-head)) 3. 6 January 2017 Fort Lauderdale. FL 5 killed (shot) ([BSO: 5 dead, 6 hurt after shooting at FLL – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale](http://wsvn.com/news/local/multiple-people-shot-at-fort-lauderdale-hollywood-intl-airport/)) 4. 10 January 2017 Colorado Springs, CO 4 killed (shot) ([Colorado Springs police find man, woman and 2 children dead in murder-suicide – The Denver Post](http://www.denverpost.com/2017/01/11/colorado-springs-bodies-found/)) 5. 28 January 2017 Kitsnap County, WA 4 killed (not reported) ([http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article130005409.html](http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article130005409.html)) 6. 6 February 2017 Yazoo City MS 4 killed (shot) ([http://wjtv.com/2017/02/06/breaking-4-people-shot-and-killed-in-yazoo-city/](http://wjtv.com/2017/02/06/breaking-4-people-shot-and-killed-in-yazoo-city/)) 7. 7 February 2017 Morris OK 4 killed (shot) ([Okmulgee Co. sheriff suspects murder-suicide after Morris family of 4 found dead](http://ktul.com/news/local/okmulgee-co-sheriff-suspects-murder-suicide-after-morris-family-of-4-found-dead)) 8. 19 February 2017 Preston ID 4 killed (shot) ([Police: Idaho father shot, killed 3 kids before turning gun on himself | KSL.com](https://www.ksl.com/?sid=43246828&nid=157)) 9. 22 February 2017 Toomsuba MS 4 dead (shot) ([3 women, 5-year-old boy shot to death in Mississippi - al.com](http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/02/3_women_5-year-old_boy_shot_to.html)) 10. 6 March 2017 El Centro CA 4 dead (shot) ([http://www.kyma.com/news/three-people-found-dead-inside-a-home/380196896](http://www.kyma.com/news/three-people-found-dead-inside-a-home/380196896)) Events 10 Killed 38 ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2017, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508/34 "2017-03-10T02:27:33Z")
1. 8 March 2017 Detroit MI 5 killed (arson) ([http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/240302465-story](http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/240302465-story)) Events 11 Killed 48 ---
**Author:** ![andrewm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c57346/32.png) [@andrewm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewm)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2017, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508/35 "2017-03-10T04:03:42Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > 1. 28 January 2017 Kitsnap County, WA 4 killed (not reported) ([http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article130005409.html](http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article130005409.html)) Article title: “We as a nation have an official bacon reserve and it’s at a 50-year low” > [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > 1. 8 March 2017 Detroit MI 5 killed (arson) ([http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/240302465-story](http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/240302465-story)) “Person of interest questioned … It’s not known yet what caused the fire, or if the cause may be weather related.” > [@](#): > > Events 10 > Killed 38 > > 5 killed (arson) > > Events 11 > Killed 48 38 + 5 = 48 ??? ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2017, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508/36 "2017-03-10T05:14:13Z")
In such a complex project, I have consistently had trouble with… the flipping addition. I have found mistakes in all ten of the lists. It really makes me feel dumb. Thank you so much for noticing. Anyone who back-checks my work on this has my thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508/37 "2017-03-16T01:53:17Z")
1. 15 March 2017 Metairie LA 4 killed (shot) ([http://www.arklatexhomepage.com/news/local-news/four-dead-in-south-louisiana-shooting/672446842](http://www.arklatexhomepage.com/news/local-news/four-dead-in-south-louisiana-shooting/672446842)) Events 12 Killed 52 ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508/38 "2017-03-23T14:04:41Z")
1. 1 January 2017, Lexington County, SC 4 killed (shot) ([http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/authorities-killed-home-apparent-murder-suicide-44509341](http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/authorities-killed-home-apparent-murder-suicide-44509341)) 2. 5 January 2017, Hubbard, OR 5 killed (multiple) ([http://katu.com/news/local/sheriff-...bbard-home-died-of-gunshot-wounds-to-the-head](http://katu.com/news/local/sheriff-...bbard-home-died-of-gunshot-wounds-to-the-head)) 3. 6 January 2017 Fort Lauderdale. FL 5 killed (shot) ([BSO: 5 dead, 6 hurt after shooting at FLL – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale](http://wsvn.com/news/local/multiple-people-shot-at-fort-lauderdale-hollywood-intl-airport/)) 4. 10 January 2017 Colorado Springs, CO 4 killed (shot) ([Colorado Springs police find man, woman and 2 children dead in murder-suicide – The Denver Post](http://www.denverpost.com/2017/01/11/colorado-springs-bodies-found/)) 5. 28 January 2017 Kitsnap County, WA 4 killed (not reported) ([http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article130005409.html](http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article130005409.html)) 6. 6 February 2017 Yazoo City MS 4 killed (shot) ([http://wjtv.com/2017/02/06/breaking-4-people-shot-and-killed-in-yazoo-city/](http://wjtv.com/2017/02/06/breaking-4-people-shot-and-killed-in-yazoo-city/)) 7. 7 February 2017 Morris OK 4 killed (shot) ([http://ktul.com/news/local/okmulgee...r-suicide-after-morris-family-of-4-found-dead](http://ktul.com/news/local/okmulgee...r-suicide-after-morris-family-of-4-found-dead)) 8. 19 February 2017 Preston ID 4 killed (shot) ([Police: Idaho father shot, killed 3 kids before turning gun on himself | KSL.com](https://www.ksl.com/?sid=43246828&nid=157)) 9. 22 February 2017 Toomsuba MS 4 dead (shot) ([3 women, 5-year-old boy shot to death in Mississippi - al.com](http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/02/3_women_5-year-old_boy_shot_to.html)) 10. 6 March 2017 El Centro CA 4 dead (shot) ([http://www.kyma.com/news/three-people-found-dead-inside-a-home/380196896](http://www.kyma.com/news/three-people-found-dead-inside-a-home/380196896)) 11. 8 March 2017 Detroit MI 5 killed (arson) ([http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/240302465-story](http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/240302465-story)) 12. 15 March 2017 Metairie LA 4 killed (shot) ([http://www.arklatexhomepage.com/news/local-news/four-dead-in-south-louisiana-shooting/672446842](http://www.arklatexhomepage.com/news/local-news/four-dead-in-south-louisiana-shooting/672446842)) 13. 22 March 2017 Weston WI 4 killed (shot) ([Police officer, three others killed in 'tragic' Wisconsin town shooting spree – New York Daily News](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/officer-killed-tragic-wisconsin-shooting-spree-article-1.3006291) Events 13 Killed 56 ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2017, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508/39 "2017-03-24T12:14:27Z")
1. 23 March 2017 Sacramento CA 4 killed (not reported) ([http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/6814297-181/4-dead-in-sacramento-home?artslide=0](http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/6814297-181/4-dead-in-sacramento-home?artslide=0)) Events 14 Killed 60 ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508/40 "2017-03-31T13:05:30Z")
First mass killing in Chicago in quite some time. 1. 31 March 2017 Chicago IL 5 killed (shot) ([4 dead in restaurant shooting: 'It is not OK. It is not OK when we lose a child like this' – Chicago Tribune](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-chicago-violence-shootings-20170330-story.html)) Events 15 Killed 65 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/776508.md?page=3)