# 2018 Mass Killings in the United States **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 20, 2018, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029 "2018-01-20T07:14:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![LowSignalToNoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecae2f/32.png) [@LowSignalToNoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LowSignalToNoise)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029/81 "2018-11-21T03:44:36Z")
In 2016 in the US there were something like 17,000 murders and 45,000 suicides that do not meet the criteria of this list. Why are the hundreds of deaths in this list more important than the tens of thousands of deaths that are not on this lost? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029/82 "2018-11-21T04:24:11Z")
Paul, I think you forgot to post #50. My tally is 5 short of yours. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029/83 "2018-11-21T14:20:42Z")
This looks like arson and murder: [4 dead in Colt’s Neck NJ fire](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/20/nyregion/colts-neck-nj-mansion-fire.html) Serious warning: Extremely disturbing news ---
**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:** [November 22, 2018, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029/84 "2018-11-22T01:41:42Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Paul, I think you forgot to post #50. My tally is 5 short of yours. This is often the case. My math skills are lacking. I will review this at the end of the year. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029/85 "2018-11-29T15:25:56Z")
[The US averaged at least 1 mass shooting a month in 2018](https://abcnews.go.com/US/2018-mass-shooting-month-us/story?id=59418185). > [@](#): > > The FBI defines a mass shooting as an incident where four or more people – not including the suspect – are killed. While there is no publicly accessible federal tracker of such incidents, various groups and watchdog organizations keep their own lists, often using different definitions of what qualifies as a mass shooting. > > For the list compiled by ABC News below, the incidents took place over the course of one day and involved four or more victims, not including the suspect. For instance, shooting sprees that spanned longer amounts of time were not included on this list. As of Nov. 28, there were at least 18 shootings that fit these parameters. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029/86 "2018-11-29T17:00:17Z")
> [@LowSignalToNoise](#): > > In 2016 in the US there were something like 17,000 murders and 45,000 suicides that do not meet the criteria of this list. > > Why are the hundreds of deaths in this list more important than the tens of thousands of deaths that are not on this lost? It has been suggested that something like [80% of the time](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/05/12/Report-shows-80-percent-of-murder-victims-knew-their-killer/6370737179200/) there familial/familiar connection between the parties of a killing – in most or all of the incidents listed in this thread, there is no such connection. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029/87 "2018-11-29T18:10:52Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > This looks like arson and murder: [4 dead in Colt’s Neck NJ fire](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/20/nyregion/colts-neck-nj-mansion-fire.html) > > Serious warning: Extremely disturbing news Update on this one, with a familial connection: [Family Murdered, a Brother in Jail and a Deepening Mystery in New Jersey](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/21/nyregion/colts-neck-nj-fire.html?module=inline) ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029/88 "2018-11-29T18:28:41Z")
This thread has 88 posts spanning ten months, and all but 25 of them are from “Paul in Qatar”, the guy who started it in the first place. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2018, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029/89 "2018-11-30T02:22:48Z")
The Commissioner is awaiting a few details before posting #54. Here it is informally. 28 November 2018 Logansport IN, 6 killed (arson) ([https://wgntv.com/2018/11/28/6-including-4-children-killed-in-indiana-house-fire/](https://wgntv.com/2018/11/28/6-including-4-children-killed-in-indiana-house-fire/)) The Commissioner has been producing these lists for years, and posts them two places on the Internet. As we approach the end of the year, now is the time ask you all if he is welcome to continue this here next year. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2018, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029/90 "2018-11-30T02:59:48Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > This thread has 88 posts spanning ten months, and all but 25 of them are from “Paul in Qatar”, the guy who started it in the first place. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. **Paul in Qatar** is the Speaker for the Dead. He should continue. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2018, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029/91 "2018-11-30T10:50:44Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > **Paul in Qatar** is the Speaker for the Dead. He should continue. Thank you for your kind words. I wanted to send you a private message but your mailbox is full. It seems the Indiana case might not be an arson after all. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029/92 "2018-11-30T12:25:05Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > This thread has 88 posts spanning ten months, and all but 25 of them are from “Paul in Qatar”, the guy who started it in the first place. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > **Paul in Qatar** is the Speaker for the Dead. He should continue. You’re right that these threads are pretty unique, **Jasmine**. And I agree with **Northern Piper** wholeheartedly. Last year, I tried to “help” **Paul** but it was quickly apparent that he was more on top of things than I anticipated and that I was actually just muddying things up. So now I only rarely post, to either help clarify with some new detail about a fading story or with some hopefully meaningful relevant statistics like I posted above. But I totally think that these threads are not only worthwhile, but a potentially very valuable resource when there are enough of them to start considering the aggregate. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2018, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029/93 "2018-12-01T14:21:07Z")
New #51, the Logansport IN case is still pending. 1. 12 November 2018 near Pell City AL, 4 killed (vehicular homicide) ([Man charged with 4 counts of murder in deadly Pell City crash - al.com](https://www.al.com/news/2018/11/man-charged-with-4-counts-of-murder-in-deadly-pell-city-crash.html)) 2. 18 November 2018 Philadelphia PA 4 killed (shot) ([Man Charged In Quadruple Murder: Philadelphia Police | Philadelphia, PA Patch](https://patch.com/pennsylvania/philadelphia/southwest-philly-quadruple-murder-suspect-arrested-police)) 3. 20 November 2018 Chicago IL, 4\* killed (shot) ([Four killed, including gunman, in Chicago hospital | Reuters Video](https://www.reuters.com/video/2018/11/20/four-killed-including-gunman-in-chicago?videoId=484071964&feedType=VideoRSS&feedName=TopNews&videoChannel=1)) 4. 20 November 218 Colts Neck NJ, 4 killed (arson) ([Colts Neck, NJ - 2 Kids, 2 Adults Dead In Arson Fire At NJ Mansion - VINnews](https://www.vosizneias.com/310462/2018/11/20/colts-neck-nj-multiple-fatalities-at-new-jersey-mansion-fire/)) Events: 54 Killed: 286 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2018, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029/94 "2018-12-03T14:30:35Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > 1. 20 November 218 Colts Neck NJ, 4 killed (arson) ([Colts Neck, NJ - 2 Kids, 2 Adults Dead In Arson Fire At NJ Mansion - VINnews](https://www.vosizneias.com/310462/2018/11/20/colts-neck-nj-multiple-fatalities-at-new-jersey-mansion-fire/)) Correction: These four victims were shot to death, then the idiot set the house on fire, apparently to destroy evidence. He then went home, set his own house on fire, and called the fire department. He either set his own house on fire to make himself look innocent, or to delay the fire dept. from going to the first house. Either way, the guy is a total shithead who should be set on fire. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029/95 "2018-12-08T03:53:24Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > This entry is preliminary. In particular it is not clear if the killer died by his own hand or was killed by the police. > > 1. 8 November 2018 Thousand Oaks CA 13 killed\* (shot) ([Live updates: California shooting leaves 12 dead in Thousand Oaks](https://edition.cnn.com/us/live-news/california-shooting-intl/index.html)) > > Events: 48 > Killed: 243 Looks like the total here may need to be revised down, as one of the victims, a police officer, though hit several times by the shooter [received the fatal round](https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-ln-borderline-update-20181207-story.html) via friendly fire. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2018, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029/96 "2018-12-11T12:16:01Z")
1. 7 December 2018 Taylors SC 4 killed (vehicular homicide) ([Driver charged with DUI in SC crash that killed 4 siblings](https://www.postandcourier.com/news/driver-charged-with-dui-in-sc-crash-that-killed-siblings/article_e56f4762-fc7e-11e8-9dbc-63bec4a48336.html)) Events: 55 Killed: 289 The Commissioner hopes this total number is correct. ---
**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:** [December 19, 2018, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029/97 "2018-12-19T18:13:15Z")
1. 19 December 2018 Plant City FL, 4\* killed (shot) ([Florida deputy kills wife, daughter, granddaughter, self | AP News](https://apnews.com/c583d3ddba554c0ba00ee6f1e80a60ce?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP&utm_campaign=SocialFlow)) Events: 56 Killed: 293 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2018, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029/98 "2018-12-19T20:41:38Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > 1. 19 December 2018 Plant City FL, 4\* killed (shot) ([Florida deputy kills wife, daughter, granddaughter, self | AP News](https://apnews.com/c583d3ddba554c0ba00ee6f1e80a60ce?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP&utm_campaign=SocialFlow)) > > Events: 56 > Killed: 293 My wife knows one of the victims. No. _Knew_ one of the victims, dammit. ☹ ---
**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:** [December 19, 2018, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029/99 "2018-12-19T23:07:23Z")
The Philadelphia incident has been removed from the list. Four men were charged this afternoon, so there was not a single killer. Events: 55 Killed: 289 ---
**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:** [December 26, 2018, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029/100 "2018-12-26T02:06:07Z")
The little girl who was wounded on the 18th has just died. This gives us: 1. 18 December 2018 Miami-Dade County FL, 4\* killed (shot) ([https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article223177860.html](https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article223177860.html)) 2. 19 December 2018 Plant City FL, 4\* killed (shot) ([Florida deputy kills wife, daughter, granddaughter, self | AP News](https://apnews.com/c583d3ddba554c0ba00ee6f1e80a60ce?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP&utm_campaign=SocialFlow)) Events: 58 Killed: 317 This horrid year shall soon end. I will publish a full recapitulation on 30 December, just before I get on the plane flying back to the Middle East. I hope you guys can check my math. That done, I shall publish the official list of Reddit r/lists. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mass-killings-in-the-united-states/807029.md?page=6)