The FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a warning on Wednesday morning about large Fourth of July celebrations.
The security organizations say the biggest threats are lone offenders and small groups, who may have a larger agenda, and find large events such as holiday gatherings “attractive” targets, according to a bulletin.
“The political environment of the country certainly doesn’t help,” Aaron Katersky, a security correspondent, told ABC News. “The police are being told by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security to be on watch for these types of things that are notoriously difficult to guard against.”
Katersky added that big cities including New York and San Francisco are likely potential targets. He added that citizens should proceed with caution, however they should not panic.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, mass shootings on the Fourth of July have steadily increased over the past three years.
The organization tallied a total 80 mass shootings that occurred over the past three years between July 1-7, according to Mark Bryant, the executive director of the nonprofit that tracks US shootings.
The group defines a “mass shooting” as a shooting that kills or injures four or more people, not including the shooter. Last year, in 2023, there were 28 mass shootings over the July 4th week, followed by 27 in 2022 and 25 in 2021.
Bryant explained that there are a handful of factors that the organization believes contributes to increased shootings on the summer holiday.
Numerous other studies support that warm weather increases the likelihood of violent crime.
A 2016 study published in the American Journal of Public Health Looked that analyzed data from 2012-2015 found that mass shootings increased during the summer months, leading researchers to conclude there is a “seasonal influence.”
A 2014 special report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics looked into seasonal patterns and criminal trends. The researchers found that days with high heat saw an 18 percent increase in violence among inmates.
