NEWTOWN, Conn. – What should have been a weekend of celebration became another devastating reminder of America’s ongoing epidemic of gun violence. There were at least 18 mass shootings over the weekend in which four or more people were shot, either injured or killed, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
Tragically, some of those 18 attacks involved children or teenage victims.
- In Coney Island, New York, four adults and four children were shot while attending a cookout. The young victims range in age from 6 to 14 years old. One of the adult victims is in critical condition, and all of the others are stable.
- In Pensacola, Florida, a 19-year-old male was killed, and six other people were injured after a targeted shooting occurred at a crowded “teen takeover” event. The injured victims range in age from 16 to 26 years old and are expected to survive.
- In Grand Rapids, Michigan, three adults and one teen were shot during a block party. All four victims are expected to recover.
- In Chicago, Illinois, six people were shot as they gathered outside – most of them teenagers. All six were hospitalized and are expected to survive. Just 10 minutes earlier, a 17-year-old female was shot in the chest near the same area in a separate incident.
- And in Glendale, Arizona, five minors were shot and injured in an entertainment district in the city. All five are expected to recover.
All of these shootings are under investigation.
The Fourth of July holiday has repeatedly been among the deadliest weekends of the year for gun violence. In both 2024 and 2025, there were at least 21 mass shootings throughout the holiday.
So far in 2026, the nation has experienced at least 224 mass shootings, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
In response, Nicole Hockley, co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement:
“Our hearts are with every victim, every family, and every community forever changed by this weekend’s violence. But grief alone will not stop the next shooting.
“We cannot allow ourselves to accept violence as a ‘normal’ fact of the Independence Day holiday, or any day, or become numb to its impact.
“This is a painful reminder that our communities are not safe – not even during our most cherished traditions. But it is also a reminder that all of us have the power to build safer communities. Mass shootings and daily acts of gun violence during the summer months are not inevitable, nor are they the price we must pay for freedom. They are the direct result of inaction. They are also preventable.
“True prevention begins long before a trigger is pulled. By equipping youth and adults to recognize the warning signs of someone in crisis and providing clear, accessible pathways to get help and intervene, we all can prevent violence. We also know that policy measures like temporary transfers and secure storage laws reduce the risk of tragedy while respecting responsible gun ownership.
“Every day we delay implementing proven solutions is another day we risk more lives, more trauma, and more communities left to face the unimaginable.
“The choice before us is not whether we can prevent violence. We can. The question is whether we are willing to act with the urgency this issue demands. We must reject the normalization of gun violence. We owe our children, our families and our communities nothing less.”
For more information about gun violence prevention, resources for how communities can heal after a tragedy, and information about life-saving firearm access policies, please visit sandyhookpromise.org.
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Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed “Know the Signs” prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
Media Contact:
Nick Dmitrovich | [email protected] | 203-304-9780 Ext. 279
*7/6/26, 3:07PM Central – This post was updated to include mention of the Glendale, Arizona shooting.