Las Vegas, Nevada – The FBI recently released a report on active shooter incidents in the United States for the year 2023, shedding light on the alarming trend of gun violence in the country. According to the report, there were 48 incidents that met the criteria of an active shooter, with two of the shootings taking place in Las Vegas. One incident occurred in June at Turnberry Towers, while the other tragic event unfolded in December at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) campus.
In the Turnberry Towers incident, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police alleged that Andrew Warrender, 32 at the time, brought a rifle into the complex and fired a shot at a security officer. Fortunately, the rifle malfunctioned after the single shot, allowing the security officer to return fire and neutralize the threat without any casualties reported. Warrender was apprehended by police, but his criminal case is still pending trial and set to begin in March of the following year.
The UNLV mass shooting, on the other hand, resulted in the loss of three faculty members – Drs. Patricia Navarro Velez, Cha-Jan “Jerry” Chang, and Naoko Takemaru – at the hands of 67-year-old Anthony Polito. The FBI report highlighted that the age group most prevalent among active shooters in 2023 was 25-34, with seventeen individuals falling within that range, including Warrender. It also noted that Polito was one of only three shooters aged 65-74 and one of twelve shooters who were killed by law enforcement.
The tragic events that unfolded in Las Vegas serve as a grim reminder of the urgent need to address gun violence in the nation and implement measures to prevent such senseless acts of violence in the future. The FBI report on active shooter incidents provides valuable insights into the demographics and circumstances surrounding these incidents, underscoring the importance of continued efforts to ensure the safety and security of communities across the country.