Another installment of the American epidemic of gun violence has unfolded this Wednesday in Milwaukee, where a reported six people were murdered by a mass shooter on the campus of the Molson Coors beverage company. Reportedly, the shooter themselves has also been killed. Although a wide array of law enforcement agencies have been reported to be responding at the scene, there’s not any immediate word as to a potential motive for the attack. Neither is there an immediate identification of the shooter.
One individual, James Boyles, explained to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that his wife Lasonya Ragdales was “told that there is an active shooter” and was “locked in a room with co-workers,” from where she was texting with her husband about the situation. The location apparently houses the workplace for a full 610 employees.
According to that same publication, responding agencies included the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, Marquette University Police Department, U.S. Marshals, and both the ATF and FBI. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was also reported to be at the scene.
Although details of the Milwaukee situation are only slowly emerging, the Gun Violence Archive notes that a full 2,304 people and counting have already died this year from gun violence in the United States, not including suicides. A full 31 children aged 11 or younger and 135 teens from the ages of 12 through 17 have been killed by gun violence — and it’s only February. While in office, President Donald Trump has failed to enact any significant gun policy reform, and the issue is among those driving Democratic campaigning efforts ahead of the general elections.
