ZeroEyes research reports trend of increased gun incidents during holidays

PHILADELPHIA — ZeroEyes revealed that its Holiday Gun Incidents in Retail Facilities Report has identified a disturbing trend involving gun-related violence in U.S. retail locations.

The research by the Gun Violence Research Center shows that, during the 2022 and 2023 holiday seasons, from Black Friday to New Year’s Eve, retail settings including malls, grocery stores, convenience stores, and gas stations experienced a large spike in gun-related incidents, with an average of five per day, resulting in significant injuries and fatalities.

The Gun Violence Research Center is a resource on gun violence in the United States of America, including active shooter and mass shooting incidents, spontaneous and targeted gun violence, as well as threats, hoaxes, and swatting. Its new findings reveal that the gun-related incidents recorded over the 2022 and 2023 holiday seasons resulted in 83 fatalities and 140 injuries. Incidents ranged from dispute escalations - by far the most common cause, making up nearly 40% of cases - to robberies and drive-by shootings. Notably, 64% of incidents took place outside of retail facilities, in parking lots and entryways, and almost 55% of shooters fled the scene and were never apprehended.

Gun violence in retail settings carry long-lasting economic and social impacts beyond the immediate physical dangers. While the primary focus is correctly centered on preventing violence and saving lives, these tragic events also have a significant financial impact on businesses. Retailers face property damage, reduced foot traffic, and increased employee turnover as both customers and staff feel unsafe.

The ZeroEyes Research Center, in collaboration with analyst firm Gartner, has developed an ROI model that quantifies these effects, which include higher insurance premiums and potential legal costs. In severe cases, the financial strain can even force permanent closures, impacting entire communities and deterring new businesses from entering affected areas.

“The rising rate of gun-related incidents in shopping areas and retail facilities is an alarming trend that requires immediate action,” said Mike Lahiff, CEO and cofounder of ZeroEyes. “Retailers and law enforcement must collaborate to enhance security measures, especially during this peak shopping period when crowds increase and safety concerns are amplified.”

The full report can be found online at https://zeroeyes.com/retail-holiday-shopping-gun-violence-report/.