Today's mass shooting in the US

This could have been much worse, where I highlighted below, it appears he intended to do a mass killing at Downtown Street Fair, where thousands attend.

Investigators said Barakat searched online for articles about mass casualty incidents and the Downtown Street Fair, suggesting to authorities he intended to open fire on thousands of people attending the event. Police visited Barakat's home and interviewed him at least twice in recent years due to concerns related to his guns, though authorities say he appeared to have acquired the weapons legally. Barakat was a Syrian national who came to the U.S. on an asylum request in 2012 and became a U.S. citizen in 2019. The injured officers, Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes, and bystander, Karlee Koswick, have since been released from the hospital and are still recovering from their injuries. Officer Robinson has undergone a mandatory psychological evaluation and came back to work in the office for a period of time. Robinson decided he was ready to go back in the field and is currently back on the streets with another officer.

Fargo, North Dakota — On July 14, 2023, Fargo Police Officers were responding to a routine traffic accident on 25th Street South in Fargo on the afternoon when, 37-year-old Mohamed Barakat opened fire on officers and first responders with a .223 caliber rifle. Police Officers Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes were shot and critically injured. Officer Wallin ran toward Barakat’s vehicle, was able to unholster his weapon and fire one shot before he was hit by Barakat. Officer Wallin was fatally shot once by Barakat. Wallin’s training officer, Zach Robinson, engaged in gunfire with Barakat. Officer Robinson radios for help, reporting officers down, and continues to try to neutralize the shooter who has been struck and is on the ground, but continues to reach for the .223 caliber rifle and 9 mm handgun on his person.

Bystander Karlee Koswick, who was involved in the initial crash on 25th Street South, was shot after the three officers were already down. She tried to run for cover when she was hit by Barakat. Officials say when Barakat’s attention turned toward her, Robinson had the opportunity to fatally shoot Barakat. Officer Robinson fired 31 rounds at Barakat and hit him 21 times. Officer Robinson told him to drop his gun 16 times, to which Barakat continued to wave a gun around. Officials believe Barakat was wearing some type of body armor during the exchange. Barakat was shot and killed around 2 minutes into the altercation. His vehicle was loaded with three long rifles, four handguns, more than 1,800 .223-caliber bullets, three canisters filled with gasoline, and two propane tanks filled with Tannerite, explosive materials used for target practice.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vri42qeZy2E

 
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Nelly said:
This could have been much worse, where I highlighted below, it appears he intended to do a mass killing at Downtown Street Fair, where thousands attend.
Click to expand...

One of the reasons IMO civilian firearms should be limited to straight pull/bolt action, albeit some people might be able to modify them but they probably have a skill set which would enable them to produce deadly weapons anyhow. Those 3 cops were hit before they really had time to react.

Apparently at least one of the shooter's weapons was modified semi-auto so as to fire both on the trigger pull and release.
 
On CNN earlier a former FBI(?) chap said the assault weapon had extended clip and assumed that the cargo trousers would contain more ammo rounds.
Can see this one getting worse if he's not extinguished soon or has the frame of mind to continue
 
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Looks like just one magazine and probably just the image quality but magazine looks offset slightly so possibly has 2 magazines taped together for swapping.
 
Apparently he’s a firearms instructor, who’d recently been committed for mental health treatment after hearing voices..

He’s still at large apparently…
 
Screeeech said:
Apparently he’s a firearms instructor, who’d recently been committed for mental health treatment after hearing voices..

He’s still at large apparently…
Click to expand...

Watched a segment of Brandon Herrera doing a college speech, IIRC in his campaign for congress, there is a lot of stuff I don't entirely disagree with in a very general way in some respects but when he was trying to downplay the implications of things like mental health and firearms access/control I could only facepalm.
 
Screeeech said:
Apparently he’s a firearms instructor, who’d recently been committed for mental health treatment after hearing voices..
Click to expand...

According to CNN he is also in the US Army Reserve. If they knew he was having a psychotic episode they should have immediately confiscated his guns and suspended his firing range/weapons access. That's how it's handled in the UK. But I suppose that since he is a firearms instructor it would have been easy for him to blag a weapon from a friendly customer even if he was on suspension from work.
 
Screeeech said:
Apparently he’s a firearms instructor, who’d recently been committed for mental health treatment after hearing voices..

He’s still at large apparently…
Click to expand...

Schizophrenia with access to guns what a lovely mix.

When will Americans come together for the greater good and give up there guns, if they dont make an effort now generations and familys to come will suffer its just endless cycle every year.

How has this guy not been caught still on the run.
 
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