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October 17, 2026, 12:25am
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If there are survivors of a mass shooting, but the mass shooter is dead, who ends up paying for treatment of the survivors?
Is it up to each victim’s own insurance, if they have it, to cover them? Does the emergency dept/hospital absorb the costs? Is there some “victim of crimes” fund that helps offset some of the burden?
It doesn’t matter if the shooter is dead or not. I’m not aware of ANY mass murderer paying for the victims of his crimes healthcare. Treatment is paid for like any accident. There are sometimes funds for victims of crimes but that is much farther down the line.
Of course, the victims could sue the shooter (or more likely, the deceased shooter’s estate) but the payout would be more like pennies.
…it depends where you live, obviously.
In New Zealand there are various mechanisms to support victims of mass shootings. For the Christchurch Terror attacks with have Accident Compensation:
“We began preparing fatal claims for each victim as Police released the names last week. This morning we received information on 41 victims from one funeral home, so we now have details on all 50.
“Our priority now is working with families and funeral homes to arrange payment of funeral grants and the full range of entitlements – such as survivors’ grants and compensation for lost earnings for those who were working in New Zealand – as we receive details about each of the affected families.”
Mike Tully says 53 of the 94 injury claims involve gunshot wounds.
“All acute medical care costs will be taken care of for everyone with injuries, as well as support with longer-term medical treatment. Anyone who was working in New Zealand will be entitled to weekly compensation while they recover. We will also provide a range of supports such as home help, transportation assistance, and childcare where required.
“We’ve received 28 weekly compensation claims; 20 are completed already. Two clients are ineligible because they’re receiving a benefit, and we’re seeking more information from six.
“We’ve had 23 claims for mental injury, including 10 claims for people who did not suffer a physical injury, nor did the mental injury occur through the nature of their work, so are ineligible for cover under the current boundaries of the ACC scheme. We’re working closely with other agencies – such as the DHB, Police, Victims Support and MSD – to ensure these people are receiving the counselling support they need,” Mike Tully says.
https://www.acc.co.nz/newsroom/stories/acc-claims-in-relation-to-terror-attack
We have Victims Support:
Victim Support has now distributed more than $3 million to the victims and families of those affected by the Christchurch terror attacks.
Chief executive Kevin Tso said two rounds of financial support have already been provided to 47 families of those who were killed and 80 people who were hospitalised.
In the past few days, another 53 injured people have come forward or been identified as needing help.
Rahimi Ahmad and his family have made a fresh start, happily living in their first home, made possible by the donated funds paid to them by Victim Support. The family received lump-sum payments from both Victim Support and the Christchurch Foundation and were also recipients of funds from the Medical Support Fund, a joint Victim Support-Christchurch Foundation initiative to help the most severely injured victims.
Along with other general charities and fundraising initiatives as well. Accident Compensation is generally the primary instrument used here for mass casualty events.