1 killed, 2 injured in Louisiana graduation mass shooting
Witnesses speak of a fight that occurred in the campus parking lot, which resulted in a heated instance of gun violence.
Zero days since the last shooting in the US.
Three people were shot - 1 killed and 2 injured - in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the Xavier University campus, where a high school graduation concluded, according to New Orleans Police Department (NOPD). The suspect is in custody.
"Investigation underway into shooting incident on the campus of Xavier University, in area of Convocation Center. Initial information shows three gunshot wound victims transported to the local hospital via EMS. Subject has been detained at the scene," NOPD said via Twitter.
#NOPDAlert: Investigation under way into shooting incident on campus of Xavier University, in area of Convocation Center. Initial information shows three gunshot wound victims transported to local hospital via EMS. Subject has been detained at the scene. pic.twitter.com/sFB3eWAlyT
— NOPD (@NOPDNews) May 31, 2022
Just after the graduation ceremony, a fight erupted in the parking lot of the university campus. According to a witness, between 5 to 12 gunshots were fired as reported by local police.
⚠️🇺🇸#DEVELOPING: Shooting reported at high school graduation in New Orleans, Louisiana#NewOrleans l #LA
— Intel Point ALERT (@IntelPointAlert) May 31, 2022
Police confirm at least three people have been shot at Xavier University, where the ceremony is taking place.
More information as it becomes available. pic.twitter.com/WXrZcZBHvh
Just recently, a school shooting in Texas claimed the lives of 21 civilians, 19 of whom were children.
Read more: US DoJ to investigate police response in Texas school shooting
US statistics 2022: 140+ mass shootings, 5 mass murders so far
According to data presented by the research group, Gun Violence Archive, over 140 mass shootings have taken place in the United States so far in 2022.
"Mass shootings - 144, mass murders - 5," the Gun Violence Archive said.
GVA explained that it has been gathering data on a daily basis from 7,500 sources and the number of incidents has been "reported and verified."
According to the organization, more than 11,700 people have died by firearms since the beginning of the year in the United States, including suicides.
The Second Amendment in the US Constitution maintains Americans' rights to bear arms and to keep them; however, the US has one of the highest rates of gun violence in the world, incidents particularly connected to far-right and white supremacist groups.