100+ Shootings & 27 Killed in Big City Gun Violence This Past Weekend

1,554 Shootings - 466 Killed - 1,632 Injured in 15 Big Cities Past 13 Weekends
The D&D Daily's Big City Weekend Violence Study - Memorial Day to Labor Day

The Daily's study analyzes weekend shooting data in 15 major U.S. cities from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend 2022

Starting Memorial Day Weekend, the D&D Daily began compiling and analyzing data from 15 major U.S. cities to get a snapshot of summer gun violence.

This past weekend, from August 19th through August 21st, there were 101 shootings recorded in these same cities, resulting in 27 deaths and 108 injuries.

The chart below shows the totals for each of the past 13 weekends dating back to Memorial Day weekend.

The D&D Daily will continue to track this data throughout the summer to capture the weekend violence trend in our nation's big cities as warm weather typically brings about more crime and violence.

Click here to see the list of incidents per city and follow along each week this summer as this spreadsheet will be updated every Monday. docs.google.com

Read more coverage about America's crime and gun violence epidemic in the section below
 

Regional AP Leader's Murder Case
Man stabbed teen in the back, slit her throat before dumping body in Flowery Branch, detective says
A Duluth man stabbed a 19-year-old Atlanta woman in the back and drove around in a panic before dumping her body in a wooded area of Flowery Branch, according to testimony Friday, Aug. 19, in Gwinnett County Magistrate Court.

Timothy Krueger Sr., 49, appeared in court with defense attorney Scott Drake for charges of felony murder and aggravated assault in the June 16 death of Sarai Llanos Gomez. Gomez’s body was found June 20 in a wooded area of Paradise Point Road in Flowery Branch after a homeowner smelled a strong odor in the neighborhood.

Gwinnett County Police Cpl. John Jorstad said Gomez was a female escort, who used a separate number advertising her services. With phone records, Jorstad said they were able to determine that Krueger’s number communicated with Gomez’s number more than 70 times between June 10 and June 16.

When interviewed by police after his Aug. 4 arrest, Krueger said he did not know Gomez’s name and was expecting a different woman to show up at his house that night. Krueger told police he thought the woman he was communicating with and Gomez “were trying to play some kind of trick on him,” Jorstad testified.

Jorstad said there was a language barrier between them during a disagreement, as Krueger thought he was being swindled. At one point, Gomez became fearful and grabbed a kitchen knife from the knife block, Jorstad said.

“He said he just remembered kind of tussling with her, grabbing the knife from her and then she turned to walk away, at which point he stabbed her in the back,” Jorstad said. Gomez fell to the ground, and Krueger “stated he just wanted it to be over, so he stabbed her a few more times and then he cut her throat,” Jorstad said.

“When my client was talking about the stabbing, did he indicate that he was acting in self defense?” Drake asked “It did not seem that he was acting in self defense,” Jorstad said. “He said that she had turned her back to him and was walking away.” gainesvilletimes.com

Read the D&D Daily's original reporting of this case here

Kentucky Debates Whether to Enact INFORM Act to Battle ORC
Judiciary committee hears testimony on law to combat organized retail crime
The Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary heard testimony on Thursday about a potential law to address the threat of organized retail crime.

Shannon Stiglitz, the senior vice president of government affairs for the Kentucky Retail Federation, was joined by representatives from Walgreens and Kroger to share the effect of organized retail crime in Kentucky.

The FBI defines organized retail crime as “professional burglars, boosters, cons, thieves, fences and resellers conspiring to steal and sell retail merchandise obtained from retail establishments by theft or deception.” Much of the stolen merchandise ends up on online marketplaces.

Stiglitz emphasized that organized retail crime refers to organized groups of people, not an individual shoplifter who will steal only the things they want or need. She also noted that some of these groups are violent toward anyone who interferes with them as they steal.

Stiglitz encouraged lawmakers to consider enacting the Integrity, Notification and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers, or the INFORM Act. It would require online marketplaces to collect certain information from high-volume, third-party sellers to verify that the products are legal. Eleven states already have the INFORM Act in place.

“What you all are presenting to us, it’s not going to get any better until we change our philosophy,” Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton said. “Until we go back to treating criminals as criminals and holding them accountable for what they do, it’s not going to get any better.”

Stiglitz did mention laws Kentucky already has to combat organized retail crime during her presentation. KRS 506.120 makes organized retail crime a class C felony. She said some prosecutors and law enforcement officers are not aware of this law and how to use it, so education is an important factor in addressing the issue. richmondregister.com

U.S. Mass Killing Data
Mass killings database reveals trends & details in every US event since 2006

High profile public shootings in the US are only a portion of the country's mass killings AP, USA TODAY and Northeastern University analysis shows.

The horror and tragedy of mass shootings in American schools, churches, grocery stores and other public places capture the nation's attention. But these are only part of the larger violence of mass killings – deaths by guns, knives, fires, vehicles and other weapons in public and in private – that plague the U.S., research shows.

Over the past decade, USA TODAY, along with Northeastern University and The Associated Press, has been tracking all mass killings in the United States. When it comes to gun violence, our database is narrower than other tracking sites, such as the Gun Violence Archive, that include shootings that injure large numbers of people but kill no one. However, our data is broader in other ways. It includes every mass killing since 2006 from all weapons in which four or more people, excluding the offender, were killed within a 24-hour time frame.

The number of mass killings in 2022 is about average compared with previous years despite recent shootings that captured public attention. The number of victims is somewhat higher than average but still below previous highs.

Cases in which someone shoots strangers in a public place usually get the most attention. But fatal public shootings are a small fraction of all mass killings. There has been a spike in these types of killings over the past few years, but the rate of occurrence has remained relatively flat since the mid-2000s. usatoday.com

Have You Updated Workplace Violence Prevention Plans?
3 ways to update a workplace violence prevention plan

A decade-old plan won’t cut it anymore, according to one expert. Employers must address changes brought about by COVID-19 and advancing technology.

Recent reports of workplace violence — coupled with an increase in certain violent crimes, generally — mean it’s time for employers to update their workplace violence prevention and mitigation plans, according to one expert.

The last few years have brought a jump in homicides, Daniel R. Pascale, executive vice president at Margolis Healy and Associates, pointed out in an August 3 webinar. And sadly, he said, “we’re going to see that spill into the workplace.”

Update protocols affected by technology

Technology has evolved such that employers cannot rely on workplace safety plans drafted 10 years ago, Pascale said. Company plans often called for reliance on tools like pay phones or worksite landlines, for example. Employers must go through their facilities, he said, and rewrite policies with today’s tech landscape in mind. Similarly, cybersecurity protocols should be updated, he said.

Add hybrid work risks

The increase in remote and hybrid work driven by the coronavirus pandemic also necessitates a shift in how employers think about workplace safety, Pascale said. Some employees are on video calls with co-workers or clients all day, with the contents of their home on full display. Some have work-related packages arriving to and shipping from their homes daily, meaning a range of couriers know where they work and that they’re shipping legal documents or IT hardware.

Conduct de-escationation and active assailant training

Finally, employees should know how to “lower the temperature” in situations that could escalate into violence, Pascale said. Employers cannot expect that workers will know how to handle an employee or co-worker who is screaming, for example; they need training on when and how to create distance between people, when to reach out for help and ways to ensure they remain physically safe, Pascale said. This is particularly important for the healthcare and retail industries, he added. The same goes for active assailant training, Pascale said. Such efforts empower employees, teaching them what action is best for them. hrdive.com

'Most Sweeping Law to Seal Criminal Records'
California advances broadest US law sealing criminal records
California would have what proponents call the nation’s most sweeping law to seal criminal records if Gov. Gavin Newsom signs legislation sent to him Thursday by state legislators.

The bill would automatically seal conviction and arrest records for most ex-offenders who are not convicted of another felony for four years after completing their sentences and any parole or probation. Records of arrests that don’t bring convictions also would be sealed.

It would take effect in July, and excludes those convicted of serious and violent felonies, and felonies requiring sex offender registration.

Proponents say about 8 million Californians have a criminal or arrest record, or about one of every five state residents. A criminal record can trigger nearly 5,000 legal restrictions in California, many of which can limit job opportunities as well as the ability to get housing and educational opportunities, supporters said.

They estimate that 70 million people nationwide face nearly 50,000 legal restrictions based on a criminal or arrest record.

Nationwide, 37 states and more than 150 cities have adopted laws preventing employers from asking candidates about their criminal histories prior to a job offer, according to the National Employment Law Project. This law would go further by automatically sealing convictions for people who meet certain conditions. mercurynews.com

Gun sales spike in wake of mass shootings
FBI firearm background check data suggests gun sales rose in Texas, Illinois and New York in the wake of shootings that collectively killed 38 people.

U.S. Marshals end Operation 'Triple Beam Honey Badger' against Wisconsin crime

Op-Ed: Gun safes and trigger locks are key in curbing gun violence

US: 95.3M Cases - 1M Dead - 90.7M Recovered
Worldwide: 601.1M Cases - 6.4M Dead - 575.6M Recovered

Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 362  
Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 793
*Red indicates change in total deaths

Did COVID-Era Mask Mandates Fuel Robbery Wave?
California store bans masks after thieves use them to avoid identification

The California store owner said customers who still want to wear a mask can schedule an appointment

One store in Beverly Hills, California is banning visitors from wearing masks, citing the recent wave of robberies in which employees have been unable to identify thieves because their faces were covered.

The owner of the boutique clothing store, Kitson, said he has noticed a "disturbing" trend of people using masks to avoid detection, according to FOX 11.

"The mask mandate may have begun as a health precaution but we believe it is now being used by some people for nefarious purposes. To that end, we enacted our own mandate of sorts," Fraser Ross said. "We do not allow the wearing of masks in the store during regular business hours. Those people who wish to wear masks are free to set up an appointment for a personal shopping experience or visit our website."

A sales associate at the store also said that the recent crime wave at the store has stopped some people from shopping there.

Many businesses around the country have implemented mask recommendations or mask requirements for customers in an attempt to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Hemenway also said that in recent robberies, even their high-end cameras haven't been able to identify the suspects due to one issue: Masks.

According to the sales associate, other stores within the area are also seeing robberies, forcing some stores to shut down. foxbusiness.com

AT&T Employees Start Petition to Keep Remote Work Permanent
AT&T employees ‘forced’ back to the office started a Change.org petition to make remote work permanent
Like most people, AT&T workers would rather work from home than in person.

Through their union, Communications Workers of America (CWA), they struck a deal with the telecom giant a few weeks ago to extend their remote policy through March 2023. But, they say, AT&T is forcing many of them to return sooner than that—some workers are already back.

“The extension agreement allows us to go back to working from home in a crisis—but we know of call centers and payroll departments that have had outbreaks, and they are not going back to working from home there,” Kieran Knutson, an AT&T call center worker of 18 years, tells Fortune. fortune.com

How China’s strict Covid policies led to supply chain bottlenecks
At the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, China’s strict “zero-Covid” policies managed to keep Covid-19 at bay. More than two years later, the country’s ongoing controls are still weighing down its economy and stalling global supply chains.

Major trade hubs such as Shanghai and Beijing, after responding to waves of omicron-driven infections, require workers to have negative Covid tests to enter public spaces. The demanding quarantine and testing rules have thwarted truckers on roads as well, driving up the amount of time it takes for goods to get to Chinese ports for export.

That’s not to mention the poor weather, labor challenges and abnormal demand patterns that have also added to supply chain disruptions. cnbc.com

How to Prevent Global Payroll Disasters in the Remote Work Era

Analysis: Men recovered all jobs lost during COVID, but women lag

Grocery Stores Fueling a Shopping Mall Revival
Can Grocery Stores Save the American Mall?

Under siege even before the pandemic struck, the suburban shopping meccas may have hit upon a survival strategy.

With pandemic precautions falling by the wayside and brick-and-mortar shopping eyeing a revival, it’s looking like there may be a strategy for the old standby to survive amid the hordes of Amazon delivery vans. Grocery stores.

When the Westfield Oakridge mall in San Jose, California opened the popular Asian grocery store chain 99 Ranch Market in March, its debut saw lines snaking out the door. Since then, the mall’s foot traffic has jumped, with customer visits up more than 10% in July compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to traffic analytics firm Placer.ai.

In addition to grocery store staples like produce and meat, the supermarket has also attracted shoppers with its dining hall and tea bar. What’s surprising is 99 Ranch took up residence in one of the mall’s anchor spots, which had typically gone to massive chains like Target Corp. or Macy’s Inc. It’s the supermarket’s first location inside a megamall.

Grocery stores have been a growing US consumer segment over the last few years. Except for so-called value outlets and “dollar” stores, grocers have had the most store openings, outpacing home improvement, electronics and superstores, according to an analysis of store openings between 2019 and 2021 from Green Street. The firm's research shows adding a grocer can boost traffic by upwards of 20% at a shopping center. bloomberg.com

Walmart Wades Into Abortion Debate
Walmart will cover abortion care for 1.6 million employees

Leaked memo says retailer will cover abortion costs when the mother's health is at risk and cover travel costs in other cases.

Walmart is expanding its healthcare coverage to include abortion care for its 1.6 million workers.

Insider reviewed a leaked memo from the chain's chief people officer, Donna Morris, that read, "Effective immediately, the Walmart self-insured healthcare plans will cover abortion when there is a health risk to the mother, rape or incest, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage or lack of fetal viability."

The company will also "provide travel support for our associates and their covered dependents so they can access services covered by our Walmart self-insured plan when they are not available within 100 miles of their location."

The memo said that "more information regarding these benefits" will be released in "the coming weeks." Experts say that Walmart, along with other top employers, will face recruitment and retention struggles in red states due to the repeal of Roe v. Wade. businessinsider.com

Amazon Continues to Struggle with Physical Stores
Amazon is pressing pause on dozens more self-checkout grocery stores amid disappointing sales, report says

Amazon has struggled to open physical stores amid high costs and tension

Amazon is pausing the rollout of self-checkout Amazon Fresh stores following disappointing sales and economic headwinds, The Sunday Times reported. Sources told the UK newspaper that Amazon had walked away from talks on dozens of new sites for its grocery stores and ended searches for new locations.

Most existing Fresh stores had fallen short of sales projections, according to the report, while the costs of building the outlets dwarfed those typically associated with other convenience stores. The Sunday Times reported that some store openings would go ahead if leases had already been signed.

The news marks the latest in a stunted rollout of Amazon's physical presence, after years of success as an online retailer. In addition to poor sales and rising costs, Insider reported that a dysfunctional team culture and tension with Whole Foods, the retailer it bought for $13.7 billion in 2017, were also contributing to delays. businessinsider.com

A wave of layoffs is sweeping the US
Here are firms that have announced cuts so far, from Shopify to Peloton.

How US Retail Sales Are Impacting Giants Such As Walmart, Target

DoorDash ending partnership with Walmart after 4+ years
 

Senior LP & AP Jobs Market

Director of Security job posted for Goodwill Industries Of Michiana Inc. in South Bend, IN
This position oversees the security operations, serves as a liaison with prosecutors and police agencies, establishes guidelines and protocols for security officers, conducts ongoing needs assessment for security, assists in the design and implementation of strategies and policies for corporate security, oversees general security and enforcement, video system review and response to emergency situations. This position reports directly to the President and CEO, who evaluates performance annually. paycomonline.net