The shooting at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in New Jersey on Saturday night marks the 100th mass shooting recorded in the United States this year, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive.
The violence erupted at around 9 p.m. on April 11 at the fast-food outlet on the 2300 block of Route 22 in Union Township. The Union County Prosecutor’s Office, which is leading the investigation, confirmed that seven people were shot. One victim was pronounced dead at the scene, while the six others sustained injuries not considered life-threatening.
Preliminary information suggests multiple masked individuals entered the restaurant, went behind the counter, and opened fire. Dashcam footage reportedly captured masked assailants fleeing the scene. In a statement issued on Sunday, the Prosecutor’s Office said the shooting did not appear to be a random act of violence and that there was no immediate ongoing threat to the general public. No arrests have been made, and a $10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest.
The Context of a Grim Milestone
The classification of this incident as the nation’s 100th mass shooting of the year stems from the criteria used by the Gun Violence Archive (GVA), a nonpartisan research group. The GVA defines a mass shooting as any incident in which four or more people are shot or killed, excluding the shooter. This definition, widely used by media and researchers, encompasses a broad range of events, including those potentially tied to gang or drug-related activity.
It is distinct from the FBI’s narrower category of “active shooter incidents,” which describes individuals actively engaged in killing in a populated area; the FBI designated 24 such events in 2024. The GVA’s tally highlights the frequency of gun violence involving multiple victims. The archive reported over 600 mass shootings in the US in 2024 alone, resulting in more than 650 deaths and over 2,000 people wounded—a threshold exceeded in each of the last four years.
I have been briefed on the shooting last night in Union Township. As local law enforcement continues their investigation, we remain in close contact with officials on the ground.
My thoughts are with those who were injured in the shooting, and with their families.
I am…
— Governor Mikie Sherrill (@GovSherrillNJ) April 12, 2026
Official Responses and a Community in Shock
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill stated she had been briefed on the shooting. “My thoughts are with those who were injured in the shooting, and with their families,” she said in a post on social media, adding that the state stands with the Union Township community.
Union Township Mayor Patricia Guerra-Frazier released a statement expressing the community’s heartbreak. “What should have been an ordinary evening has left families grieving, individuals injured, and our entire township in shock,” she said. “This tragedy is a painful reminder of the work that remains to ensure the safety of our communities.” The township, a community of approximately 60,000 people located 17 miles west of New York City, has previously been recognised for its safety but maintains a measurable violent crime rate.
Chaos and Confusion: Witnesses Recount the Scene
Witness accounts depict a scene of sudden terror. Dozens of patrons scrambled to safety during the attack. A father waiting outside for his son, a Chick-fil-A employee, told reporters that his child described the restaurant as a “war zone” and said several co-workers were wounded after the masked individuals entered.
A rideshare driver completing a trip nearby reported hearing seven distinct shots. The urgency of the moment was captured in 911 dispatcher audio, which referenced an “unconscious witness,” a victim shot in the face, and at least two people shot in the leg. Employees remained inside the sealed-off restaurant past 11 p.m., with anxious family members gathering outside.
