The District authorities are preparing to examine the victims of fatal gun violence in order to figure out the root causes behind the increasing death toll from gun-related incidents, the Washington Post reported.
Attributing to a research released by the D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), it was revealed in the report that 57 individuals killed in shootings in 2017 were shot “multiple times” and the number rose to 74 in 2018. According to officials, these figures play a key role in explaining why the fatality rate increased in shooting incidents.
Speaking to the Washington Post regarding the issue, Mallory Williams, the chief of the division of trauma and critical care at Howard University Hospital, said:
“Instead of single gunshots to the legs, we are seeing gunshot wounds going through the chest and abdomen, and causing multiple injuries.”
A planned new research is aiming to analyze the background of victims, rather than that of suspects, which has already been investigated. The news was hailed by some, including Kevin Donahue, D.C.’s Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice.
Very important research into gun violence being done by @rmitch_jr. @MayorBowser’s FY20 budget funds 3 neighborhood-based trauma counseling centers in communities most affected by gun violence to focus on health-based approach to healing trauma. https://t.co/53Tmpt0len
— Deputy Mayor Chris Geldart (@SafeDC) May 17, 2019
Easy access to illegal weapons is considered to be another factor by officials. However, some Twitter users expressed their disagreement about a possible connection.
Leftists have a limited number of approved talking points they are allowed to use, which is why they blame improved accuracy on access to guns. There is no connection. https://t.co/JAs4Xw0RZI
— Michael R Shannon (@ReluctantUser2) May 21, 2019
Earlier this year, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced an initiative in order to reduce D.C.’s rising homicide rate. Among the agencies supporting the initiative were the FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Marshals and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
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