A wave of Halloween shootings left at least 24 dead and 94 wounded across the US, according to police statements cited by the New York Times / Hawaii Tribune-Herald. The violence stretched from California to Delaware — nightclubs, costume stores, stadiums and campuses.

In Dallas’s Deep Ellum, three incidents early on 1 November left at least four dead and 15 injured. In Jacksonville, 13 people were shot in two separate attacks, with two dead. In Birmingham, one dead and eight wounded near Legion Field after the Magic City Classic. In Bloomington, Illinois, a 19-year-old woman died near Illinois Wesleyan.

At a Spirit Halloween in Fairfield, California, a pregnant mother was killed and six wounded. In Detroit, a 5-year-old still in costume was hit by a bullet at home after trick-or-treating — stable condition. Criminologist James Alan Fox notes Oct. 31 ranks among the year’s most violent days, especially for minors.

Experts tie the mix of costumes, alcohol, drugs and firearm access. It is unclear whether this weekend was outsized versus recent holidays, but prior studies show Halloween violence spikes.

Image: Dallas at night (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

Sources consulted: Halloween Shootings Leave at Least 24 Dead and 94 Wounded Nationwide - The New York Times.