Are shootings on the rise? Delaware Courthouse Shooting

[Hitman]

or is the Media just reporting every single shooting now as opposed to not doing so for so long?

Trying to find a source of a rise or not in shootings.


http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/11/justice/delaware-court-shooting/index.html

Wilmington, Delaware (CNN) -- Three people are dead, including a gunman who opened fire in a courthouse in Wilmington, Delaware, Monday morning, Delaware State Police said.

Two Capitol Police officers were wounded in the gunfight, but their injuries aren't life threatening because they were wearing bulletproof vests, police said.

The man entered the lobby of at the New Castle County Courthouse around 8 a.m. and began shooting

 

[Mayonnaise]

Weird. I didn't think they allowed guns in court houses.

Edit: that's not a stupid jab at the "no guns" signs or firearm free zones. I thought all court houses had metal detectors and armed guards.

 

[JBE]

or is the Media just reporting every single shooting now as opposed to not doing so for so long?

The media is a bunch of sharks and they smell blood in the water

 

[Hitman]

The media is a bunch of sharks and they smell blood in the water

Yea I know but am wondering if we can provide something solid that says one way or another.

 

[Emperor]

Yea I know but am wondering if we can provide something solid that says one way or another.

My guess is they are on full alert for ANY firearms related incidents happening anywhere and exploit all for gain.

 

[sandman7925]

I have no statistics to back it up but I think shootings are on the rise. In the world of the disturbed it is the trendy thing to do.

 

[JNieman]

Yea I know but am wondering if we can provide something solid that says one way or another.

I guess the line has to be drawn between "Shooting" and "Homicide with firearm". If you just look at homicide with a firearm, the FBI stats can show evidence. It's hard to look at the partial year of 2013 and project, though. I do recall seeing mention that more suicides and domestic violence occurs in the winter times, often attributed to winter weather being more depressing, and being indoors more.

 

[benorth]

I believe it may be a mix of both, folks are becoming famous for shooting up a school, office etc. As well as every major news cast pushing it to the headlines...

 

[Bill Baldwin]

Yea I know but am wondering if we can provide something solid that says one way or another.

The FBI Uniform Crime Reports is what you want to be looking at. According to the 2011 UCR

In 2011, an estimated 1,203,564 violent crimes occurred nationwide, a decrease of 3.8 percent from the 2010 estimate.

and

Aggravated assaults accounted for the highest number of violent crimes reported to law enforcement at 62.4 percent. Robbery comprised 29.4 percent of violent crimes, forcible rape accounted for 6.9 percent, and murder accounted for 1.2 percent of estimated violent crimes in 2011.

Information collected regarding type of weapon showed that firearms were used in 67.7 percent of the nation’s murders, 41.3 percent of robberies, and 21.2 percent of aggravated assaults.

The percentages above have been constant for the past 10 years, so this would indicate that criminal acts of shootings are down from 2010 to 2011 (and since 2001).

The CDC non fatal injury reports also indicate that the rate of non fatal gunshot injuries is down.

The 2012 Preliminary FBI Uniform Crime Reports indicate that the murder rate is down 1.7% for the first six months of 2012, but violent crime is up 1.9%. Of course, there won't be a clear picture of 2012 until later this year.

 

[Speedlace]

A GLOCK 21 was used and this was a targeted shooting. His target was he son's ex-wife.

There is a small lobby after you enter the courthouse doors before you get to the security checkout where the metal detectors are.

The victim and a her friend in the lobby when the man, Matusiewicz, walked up to them and started shooting.

2 Officers came from behind the checkpoint and got into a shootout with Matusiewicz.
Both officers got shot, but their bullet resistance vest saved them.
Thomas Stanley Matusiewicz got shot in the chest.

The old man stumbled out of the revolving doors and shot himself in the head.

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/21138605/police-gunman-in-wilmington-court-shooting-killed-himself
http://www.delawareonline.com/artic...077/Shooter-had-longstanding-grievance-victim

 

[Hitman]

What a Grandfather. Kills the mother of his grandchildren. At least he shot himself.