ZeroEyes’ research reports on increase in retail gun incidents during the holiday season

ZeroEyes has announced that its Gun Violence Research Centre has released its ‘Holiday Gun Incidents in Retail Facilities Report’, identifying a trend involving gun-related violence in US retail locations.

The research

The research shows that, during the 2022 and 2023 holiday seasons, from Black Friday to New Year’s Eve.

Retail settings including malls, grocery stores, convenience stores and gas stations that experienced a large spike in gun-related incidents with an average of five per day, resulting in significant injuries and fatalities.

The research also found:

• The gun-related incidents recorded over the 2022 and 2023 holiday seasons resulted in 83 fatalities and 140 injuries
• Incidents ranged from dispute escalations (40% of incidents reported), robberies and drive-by shootings
• 64% of incidents took place outside of retail facilities, in parking lots and entryways and almost 55% of shooters fled the scene and were never apprehended

The Gun Violence Research Centre is a resource on gun violence in the United States of America, including active shooter and mass shooting incidents, spontaneous and targeted gun violence, as well as threats, hoaxes and swatting.

Retail gun violence

Gun violence in retail settings carry long-lasting economic and social impacts beyond the immediate physical dangers.

Retailers face property damage, reduced foot traffic and increased employee turnover as both customers and staff feel unsafe.

While the primary focus is preventing violence and saving lives, the tragic events also have a significant financial impact on businesses.

In severe cases, the financial strain can force permanent closures, impacting entire communities and deterring new businesses from entering affected areas.

“Requires immediate action”

Mike Lahiff, CEO and Co-Founder, ZeroEyes commented: “The rising rate of gun-related incidents in shopping areas and retail facilities is an alarming trend that requires immediate action.”

Lahiff added: “Retailers and law enforcement must collaborate to enhance security measures, especially during this peak shopping period when crowds increase and safety concerns are amplified.”

The ROI model

In collaboration with analyst firm Gartner, the companies have developed an ROI model that quantifies these effects which includes higher insurance premiums and potential legal costs.