When a mass shooting isn't...

[rog1187]

many news outlets have characterized the overnight shooting in a crime-heavy section of Pittsburgh where 5 people were killed a mass shooting...however per Shooting Tracker (yes there is such a thing) the definition of a mass shooting (they made it up but is often used) is "an event, or related series of events (likely without a cooling off period), where four or more people are shot including the perpetrator." So since the perps were not shot or killed, I'm wondering if the news outlets will change their characterization of the incident or if Shooting Tracker will look to change their definition?

 

[WhiteTailEER]

many news outlets have characterized the overnight shooting in a crime-heavy section of Pittsburgh where 5 people were killed a mass shooting...however per Shooting Tracker (yes there is such a thing) the definition of a mass shooting (they made it up but is often used) is "an event, or related series of events (likely without a cooling off period), where four or more people are shot including the perpetrator." So since the perps where not shot or killed, I'm wondering if the news outlets will change their characterization of the incident or if Shooting Tracker will look to change their definition?

Why would the perpetrator need to be included in the definition? Do you happen to have any background on that? Seems strange.

 

[rog1187]

Why would the perpetrator need to be included in the definition? Do you happen to have any background on that? Seems strange.

don't know...that's the definition attributed to the Shooting Tracker definition.

 

[WVUHomer_rivals]

That site lists the recent shooting. I think they mean that the perp can be counted as one of the four people, (3 victims + perp shot = mass shooting)

 

[WhiteTailEER]

That site lists the recent shooting. I think they mean that the perp can be counted as one of the four people, (3 victims + perp shot = mass shooting)

OK, that makes a lot more sense than how I was reading it. I should have known better because how I was reading made absolutely no sense.

 

[ThatNehlenFeelin]

Sensationalism sells. Truth does not

 

[WVUHomer_rivals]

It says right on the page that they've changed their definition of a mass shooting
http://www.shootingtracker.com/Main_Page

2016 Methodology Changes

A note that the data on shootingtracker.com will now comply with the standard Gun Violence Archive methodology on how mass shootings are counted.

Gun Violence Archive has always used the FBI derived definition:

FOUR or more shot and/or killed in a single event [incident], at the same general time and location, not including the shooter.

This difference is that we do not count the shooter among the victims when determining if a shooting reaches the threshold of Mass Shooting. It insures a clear separation between victims of a shooting and those who perpetrate the crime. GVA also does not parse the definition to exclude any type of gun violence such as gang shooting or domestic violence. The definition is purely numerical and reflects ALL shootings which reach that statistical threshold.

 

[rog1187]

It says right on the page that they've changed their definition of a mass shooting
http://www.shootingtracker.com/Main_Page

2016 Methodology Changes

A note that the data on shootingtracker.com will now comply with the standard Gun Violence Archive methodology on how mass shootings are counted.

Gun Violence Archive has always used the FBI derived definition:

FOUR or more shot and/or killed in a single event [incident], at the same general time and location, not including the shooter.

This difference is that we do not count the shooter among the victims when determining if a shooting reaches the threshold of Mass Shooting. It insures a clear separation between victims of a shooting and those who perpetrate the crime. GVA also does not parse the definition to exclude any type of gun violence such as gang shooting or domestic violence. The definition is purely numerical and reflects ALL shootings which reach that statistical threshold.

Then the news outlet mis-printed their definition