Data from the Gun Violence Archive indicates that mass shootings increased during the Independence Day weekend, with a significant incident occurring in Florida. Eleven people were killed and 86 injured across 17 mass shootings in 13 states between July 4 and July 5. The deadliest event for the state occurred early Sunday morning in downtown Pensacola, where one man was killed and six others wounded.
Pensacola Shooting Details
The incident in Pensacola took place after celebrations for the nation's 250th anniversary. According to Pensacola Police Chief Eric Winstrom, the fatality has been identified as Philip "PJ" Sheppard, a 19-year-old who was pronounced dead at the scene. The other six victims, aged between 16 and 26, are receiving medical care but are expected to survive.
During a press conference on July 6, Chief Winstrom revealed that five of the seven victims have been released from hospitals. He noted that six of the victims knew each other and some had "known gang connections." The seventh victim may have been struck accidentally. This event marks Florida's 13th mass shooting in 2026 as of July 6.
National and State Trends
The Gun Violence Archive defines a mass shooting as an incident that injures or kills four or more people, excluding the shooter. While numbers dropped dramatically last year—falling to 16 in Florida from 32 in 2024—the current data suggests a reversal of that trend. As of July 6, there were 224 mass shootings reported in the U.S., compared to 217 during the same period last year.
California, Indiana, and Massachusetts each recorded two mass shootings over the holiday weekend. The national list includes incidents in Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas. These figures are compiled from more than 5,000 law enforcement, government, and media sources.
Broader Gun Violence Statistics
Beyond mass shootings, the total toll of gun violence in the U.S. as of July 6 includes 6,602 deaths and 12,200 injuries. The data also accounts for children and teens among the casualties, with 115 children and 439 teens killed, alongside hundreds more injured.
Additional statistics show that 184 law enforcement officers were killed or injured in line-of-duty incidents. In officer-involved shootings, police have killed 753 people and injured 380. Furthermore, the data records 442 deaths from self-defense situations and 648 unintentional shootings.
