The U.S. saw a record-high number of mass shootings in 2020 as those crimes jumped nearly 50% over the previous year.
There were 611 mass shootings reported, resulting in more than 500 deaths and over 2,500 injuries. The nonprofit Gun Violence Archive says the pandemic is largely to blame due to crippling unemployment, violent protests, and young people out of school with nothing to do. Some criminologists expect this year to be much better, with COVID-19 cases falling and vaccines rolling out.