The shootings underscored the fact the US faces not just that the Covid-19 pandemic, but also a gun violence epidemic
By the end of the weekend, at least nine more people had died from gun violence in back-to-back shootings across the country — in Illinois, Texas, Wisconsin, Ohio, Nebraska and Louisiana. At least 10 more were wounded.
A 7-year-old girl was killed in a shooting in Chicago on Sunday afternoon that also left a 29-year-old man seriously injured, according to Chicago Police spokesperson Anthony Spicuzza.
In a statement emailed to CNN, Spicuzza said the two were in a vehicle near the parking lot of a business when they were hit at about 4:18 p.m.
The girl was struck multiple times and taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, the statement said. The man was hit in the torso and was hospitalized in serious condition.
The shooting is under investigation. No one is in custody, the statement said.
Austin, Texas
Austin police, fire and emergency medical services responded at about 11:42 a.m. to the city’s Great Hills Trail and Rain Creek Parkway area, where they found three people suffering gunshot wounds, officials said.
Police identified the suspect as 41-year-old Stephen Nicholas Broderick, a former Travis County Sheriff’s Office detective who was charged last year with sexual assault of a child, a sheriff’s office spokesperson told CNN.
The victims — two women and a man — knew Broderick, Austin Police Interim Chief Joseph Chacon said. A child was involved in the incident but was located and is safe.
Broderick resigned from the sheriff’s office last year following his arrest in June, and he was was released on bond later that month.
He remained at large Sunday evening.
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Gunfire erupted at The Somers House tavern around 12:40 a.m. Sunday, according to Sheriff David G. Beth, who said it “sounds like one person got removed from the establishment and possibly came back a short time later” and started shooting.
It was unclear why that person was initially removed, the sheriff said.
The sheriff’s office said Sunday evening officials had located a “person of interest” who would be charged with one count of first-degree intentional homicide, with additional charges possible pending further investigation.
Dozens of law enforcement officials from at least seven agencies and eight fire departments were working the case, which involved several crime scenes, the sheriff’s office said.
Columbus, Ohio
According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, a small group had gathered in the parking lot of a Dollar General to remember Jarrin Hickman, who was murdered there a year ago.
A dark-colored SUV drove by around 7:30 p.m., the sheriff’s office said, and the people inside started shooting at the crowd. Five people were struck by gunfire and were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.
But 39-year-old Latoya Carpenter was killed as she drove by the store, the sheriff’s office said. A bullet hit Carpenter in the head and her vehicle crashed into a parked car. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
No suspects were in custody, the news release said, and the shooting remained under investigation.
Omaha, Nebraska
Police arrested two people in connection to the shooting: A 16-year-old was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder, while an 18-year-old was arrested on suspicion of being accessory to the homicide.
The shooting happened around noon, said Omaha Police Lt. Neal Bonacci, sending customers including Celia Davis searching for cover.
While they were hiding, Davis said she texted her mother and her boyfriend, “I love you guys.”
LaPlace, Louisiana
Six people were injured after someone opened fire during a 12-year-old’s birthday party in LaPlace, Louisiana on Saturday.
The shooting started “when verbal confrontations during a child’s birthday party led to gunfire,” officials said.
The sheriff’s office said that it is not aware of any fatalities related to the Saturday shooting, and no arrests have been made.
CNN’s Hollie Silverman, Amir Vera, Alaa Elassar, Alta Spells, Sharif Paget and Holly Yan contributed to this report.