A high school parking lot in Washington DC was rocked by a fatal shooting on Wednesday evening, marking the third attack on a child in the US capital within a week. The 17-year-old victim, who has not yet been named, was found outside Theodore Roosevelt High School following a confrontation that led to gunshots. Police are currently investigating the incident and questioning witnesses, with the handgun used in the shooting subsequently discovered on the premises. While gunshots were heard from inside the school, it remains unclear whether anyone within the building was involved in the exchange of gunfire.
Mayor Muriel Bowser has since pledged to take urgent action on violent crime within the city, emphasising the need for a shift in how officials work with young people in order to prevent further tragedies. Her statement came as Washington DC experiences a surge in gun violence, with six minors and 64 people overall killed this year – a 4% increase from 2020.
Overall, the United States continues to be a global outlier in terms of gun-related deaths, with nearly 40,000 fatalities linked to firearms in 2019 alone. Many advocates have called for stricter regulations and background checks on the sale of guns, however, resistance from pro-gun groups has seen relatively little change in policy so far.
As of now, the community is both devastated and outraged by the loss of another child to senseless violence. Roosevelt High is just one of many schools in the US that have been affected by gun violence in recent years, prompting renewed calls for lawmakers to address the issue with the urgency it deserves.
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