Gun Violence Increase During the Pandemic

As the pandemic continues, although crime, in general, is on the decline, gun violence is on the rise, and it seems like every day there's a new report of a shooting, especially when it comes to the refusal to wear masks.

Shootout with Seven Cops

According to the police, on July 31^st, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Adam Zaborowski, a 35-year-old man, entered a Cigars International Store and was told by employees that both state and store rules required masks to be worn. Staff members offered curbside service. However, Zaborowski allegedly took two cigars and left the store. When a staff member followed him outside, he responded by firing a round from a semi-automatic into the air and two rounds at the staff member. At the time, nobody was injured.

The following night, according to Lehighvalley.com, State troopers and police waited at Zaborowski's home for the arrest warrant to arrive. Zaborowski left in his truck, and the officers followed. They pulled him over at the intersection of Second and East Washington. In response, Zaborowski took out an AK-47 and an automatic pistol and shot at the police officers. Lehighvalley.com reported that “Zaborowski is charged with seven counts of attempted homicide, seven counts of attempted first-degree murder of a police officer, seven counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a single count of possession of a gun despite a felony. He can't own a handgun due to a previous aggravated assault conviction, police said.”

It seems that Zaborowski recently lost his job and a custody battle for his children. And according to his lawyer was “just not handling the pandemic well.”

Other Instances of Mask Refusal During the Pandemic

Across the nation, there is an increase of violence as individuals pushback against local and state requirements to wear a mask in public spaces to help stop the spread of COVID-19, even as cases climb. In Michigan, two men were charged in connection to a shooting at a Family Dollar after the security guard asked them to wear a mask. A cashier in Pennsylvania was punched in the face after asking a customer to put on a mask.

In fact, just a few weeks ago, a couple allegedly assaulted an employee at a theme park in Pennsylvania, when the teenager reminded them of the mask rules in the park.

There has been such an influx of aggression connected to the regulations around mask-wearing, that some states, such as Illinois, are passing laws that make it a felony to assault workers who are requesting customers to wear a mask.

Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney

If you or a loved one has been experiencing the stress of the pandemic and it's led to potential charges, you want to make sure you have an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side. LLF Law Firm has many years of experience fighting on their clients' behalf to protect their rights. Call the LLF Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 to discuss your circumstances, or reach out to us online.