Louisiana city sets disturbing record with 6th mass shooting of 2023

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — This week, Shreveport, Louisiana, reached a troubling milestone with its sixth mass shooting of the year, setting a new city record for the highest number of mass shootings in a single year.

The latest violence unfolded during a large party on the 4th of July where multiple partygoers were shot. Police said more than 200 people were attending the party when two groups of men opened fire.

Jadajah Thomas, who was at the party at the time of the shooting, described the chaos.

“We was sitting in the car for like 15 minutes when we heard shots everywhere,” said Thomas. “We also was driving past, trying to get out. We was right here. We seen people laying out dead on the ground.”

Shreveport Councilwoman Tabatha Taylor speaks at a press conference after a mass shooting at a Shreveport block party on July 4
Tabatha Taylor speaks at press conference after July 4 mass shooting (Source: KTAL/KMSS staff)

During a press conference Wednesday, District 2 Commissioner Lyndon Johnson expressed shock. “Right now, I’m just in awe of what has happened today. This street is family tight. Everyone is real close. This community is hurting right now.”

Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said the injury to the neighborhood is severe.

“Every death, every injury from gun violence affects all of us and diminishes us as a community,” Arceneaux said.

Other officials expressed outrage.

“I am looking for justice for these families, said Shreveport Councilwoman Tabatha Taylor. “And I want this justice to reflect full prosecution, no sympathy, no empathy because you didn’t give no empathy to the people you hurt. None.”

While there is no universally agreed-upon definition, mass shootings are widely recognized to be when three or more people are shot in a single incident.

According to the Mass Shooting Tracker, since 2013, Shreveport has not seen more than four mass shootings in a year. This isn’t the first time Shreveport has seen a mass shooting on a holiday. An online dispute led to a brawl on Halloween 2016 that violently escalated, wounding four people.

March is typically the deadliest month in Shreveport, with five mass shootings since 2013.

Below is a list of every mass shooting in Shreveport in the past 10 years:

2023 (to date)

DateDeadWounded
January 2208
March 404
March 2404
March 2515
May 1404
July 437
Mass Shooting Tracker

2022

DateDeadWounded
April 213
Mass Shooting Tracker

2021

DateDeadWounded
January 323
February 2805
April 1806
September 414
Mass Shooting Tracker

2020

DateDeadWounded
January 3104
July 1513
November 1505
Mass Shooting Tracker

2019

DateDeadWounded
March 1004
April 704
June 1504
Mass Shooting Tracker

2018

DateDeadWounded
April 1506
May 2704
Mass Shooting Tracker

2017

DateDeadWounded
January 2913
Mass Shooting Tracker

2016

DateDeadWounded
May 528
July 713
October 3104
Mass Shooting Tracker

2015

DateDeadWounded
July 508
September 1204
September 2305
Mass Shooting Tracker

There were no mass shootings in 2014, according to the Mass Shooting Tracker.

2013

DateDeadWounded
March 213
Mass Shooting Tracker
Tags Louisiana Lyndon Johnson Mass shootings

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