Terror on repeat

A rare look at the devastation caused by AR-15 shootings

Editor’s note: The photos, videos and personal accounts below are extremely disturbing and may be too upsetting for some people. Read why The Post is publishing this story.

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When a gunman fires an AR-15 ...

… a seemingly safe, familiar place instantly transforms into a hellscape of chaos, destruction and mass death.

Three concertgoers, a man in jeans and a T-shirt and two young women in shorts, tank tops and cowboy boots, run amid water bottles strewn on a grassy surface. People at the back are huddled on the ground. Festival lights are on in the distance.

A church pew is raised off a red-carpeted floor and rests on top of another pew. The floor is stained with blood, and the church wall is riddled with bullet holes.

Body bags line an elementary school hallway with walls painted blue and green. Faint traces of blood dot the cream tiled floor, and student artwork and fliers are hung on the walls.

By Silvia Foster-Frau,

N. Kirkpatrick and

Arelis R. Hernández

Nov. 16, 2023 at 6:00 a.m.

Mass shootings involving AR-15s have become a recurring American nightmare.

The weapon, easy to operate and widely available, is now used more than any other in the country’s deadliest mass killings.

Fired by the dozens or hundreds in rapid succession, bullets from AR-15s have blasted through classroom doors and walls. They have shredded theater seats and splintered wooden church pews. They have mangled human bodies and, in a matter of seconds, shattered the lives of people attending a concert, shopping on a Saturday afternoon, going out with friends and family, working in their offices and worshiping at church and synagogue. They have killed first-graders, teenagers, mothers, fathers and grandparents.

But the full effects of the AR-15’s destructive force are rarely seen in public.

American Icon

A series examining the AR-15, a weapon with a singular hold on a divided nation

About the terminology

Colt acquired the AR-15 patent and trademark from Armalite in 1959. The patent expired, leaving many companies to produce their own weapons, commonly called AR-15-style rifles. While Colt still holds the trademark, “AR-15” has become a ubiquitous term for a popular style of gas-operated, magazine-fed semiautomatic rifle. For this reason, we refer to the rifle broadly as the AR-15 in this series.

The impact is often shielded by laws and court rulings that keep crime scene photos and records secret. Journalists do not typically have access to the sites of shootings to document them. Even when photographs are available, news organizations generally do not publish them, out of concern about potentially dehumanizing victims or retraumatizing their families.

Now, drawing on an extensive review of photographs, videos and police investigative files from 11 mass killings between 2012 and 2023, The Washington Post is publishing the most comprehensive account to date of the repeating pattern of destruction wrought by the AR-15 — a weapon that was originally designed for military combat but has in recent years become one of the best-selling firearms on the U.S. market.

This piece includes never-before-released pictures taken by law enforcement officials after shootings inside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Tex., in 2022, and the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Tex., in 2017, that were obtained by The Post. It is also based on Post interviews with survivors and first responders from multiple shootings as well as transcripts of official testimony provided by law enforcement officials who were among the first to witness the carnage. Read a note here from the executive editor about how The Post decided what to publish and why.

The review lays bare how the AR-15, a weapon that has soared in popularity over the past two decades as a beloved tool for hunting, target practice and self-defense, has also given assailants the power to instantly turn everyday American gathering places into zones of gruesome violence.

This is an oral history told in three parts that follows the chronological order of a typical AR-15 mass shooting. It weaves together pictures, videos and the recollections of people who endured different tragedies but have similar stories to tell.

PART 1

SHOTS ARE FIRED

To some it sounds like fireworks, to others a deafening roar. The initial burst from the AR-15 is often the first sign that something unusual is happening. Moments later, bullets riddle walls, windows, shelves and notebooks. Some people are shot and others scramble for safety. Later, investigators identify dozens or hundreds of bullet casings.

All of a sudden, out of nowhere, you just hear the loudest, most unbelievably piercing sound you’ve ever heard in your life. Danielle Gilbert, high school student. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Fla.

People started screaming, and there was hysteria and people were dropping to the ground. Heather Brown Sallan, vendor. Route 91 Harvest festival, Las Vegas.

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Route 91 Harvest festival, Las Vegas. Oct. 1, 2017. 60 killed.

I turned around and ... looked at the back doors, just trying to get my bearings and figure out, is this some kids throwing firecrackers? David Colbath, church congregant. First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs, Tex.

I heard what sounded like metal chairs falling, and I figured that was for the holiday program or something. Abbey Clements, teacher. Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Conn.

Six rows of brown church pews are covered in dust and debris. One pew has a dark-red blood stain and the red carpet underneath has two large dark-red circles of blood. The church wall is riddled with bullet holes. Investigators stuck a pink rod on the back of one pew to determine a bullet’s trajectory. Text reads: “First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs, Texas, November 5, 2017. 26 killed.” — First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs, Tex. Nov. 5, 2017. 26 killed.

A glass window is shattered and glass fragments are scattered onto two chairs and a couch nearby, inside the lobby of a school. Text reads: “Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Connecticut. December 14, 2012. 26 killed.” — Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Conn. Dec. 14, 2012. 26 killed.

The wall of a room is riddled with bullet holes. A table with books is covered in dust and debris, as is the patterned brown-and-red carpet. Blood is smeared on the wall in the hallway just outside the room. Text reads; “Tree of Life synagogue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. October 27, 2018. 11 killed.” — Tree of Life synagogue, Pittsburgh. Oct. 27, 2018. 11 killed.

The face my wife made the moment we heard shots and she started to run with the stroller … super tense — I don’t know how to describe it. Daniel Seijas, shopper. Allen Premium Outlets, Allen, Tex.

Since it was pitch black, I could see the muzzle flashes coming from that left side. ... There was drywall fragments falling from the ceiling. Anthony Burke, police detective and SWAT officer. Tree of Life Congregation, Pittsburgh.

A bullet hole pierces a classroom door, warping its flat surface. Text reads: “Robb Elementary School, Uvalde, Texas. May 24, 2022. 21 killed.” — Robb Elementary School, Uvalde, Tex. May 24, 2022. 21 killed.

A prayer book with Hebrew lettering on the cover. The upper corner of the book is torn and damaged. An evidence marker is on top of the book with a label reading “BH26.” Text reads, “Tree of Life synagogue, Pittsburgh.” — Tree of Life synagogue, Pittsburgh

Dark red blood collects at the base of a classroom file cabinet. There are two holes in the cabinet that have been tagged with evidence markers. Text reads, “Robb Elementary School, Uvalde.” — Robb Elementary School, Uvalde

Blood is mixed with spilled popcorn on top of dark movie theater carpet. A small card is folded in half and used as an evidence marker and is placed near a plastic cup lid with a red straw. The number 126 is written on the card. — Century 16 movie theater, Aurora, Colo. July 20, 2012. 12 killed.

To be able to cope with being in a position where I couldn’t do anything, I did the most useful thing that I can think of: I was counting rounds and reloads. Morgan Workman, church congregant. Sutherland Springs.

The bullets were ricocheting off the street. ... You could hear the pinging and the ricocheting of them hitting the cars around you. It was the chaos of it — it just kept going and going and going. Heather Brown Sallan, vendor. Las Vegas.

Before he ever came in, there was really hardly anybody that could rise up and challenge him. But with these bullets just flying through the air, there was nobody going to be able to do it and nobody could. David Colbath, church congregant. Sutherland Springs.

Note to readers

This video was recorded by Danielle Gilbert, moments after a gunman shot into classroom 1213 in Parkland, where she, Maddy Wilford and other students were taking AP Psychology. In the video, you’ll hear a loud alarm, wounded students who are not visible crying for help and additional gunfire. It is upsetting.

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Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, Parkland, Fla. Feb. 14, 2018. 17 killed.

I got shot four times ...I thought I got hit with a ton of bricks … so I looked behind me to try to see if there’s anyone to help me. And all I could see was blood. Maddy Wilford, high school student in classroom 1213, Parkland.

When I could hear the gunfire, I knew where he was. When I didn’t hear the gunfire, I’m thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, he’s coming this way.’ I kept thinking that everyone was dead. There’s no way they’re not all dead. Dallas Schwartz, employee. Old National Bank, Louisville.

I only thought he got shot one time, and it was five. ... As the police and them come to us I just grab on my dad and just kept telling him I loved him before he died. Dion Green, bar patron. Oregon Historic District, Dayton, Ohio.

Dozens of yellow evidence tags are seen on a sidewalk. Police crime tape is wrapped around posts and a tree. A blue bike is lying on its side, chained to a post. Text reads: “Oregon Historic District, Dayton, Ohio, August 4, 2019. 9 killed.” — Oregon Historic District, Dayton, Ohio. Aug. 4, 2019. 9 killed.

Inside a Las Vegas hotel room, at least eight AR-15 and AR-10 rifles, along with 60 and 100 round rifle magazines, are strew on the floor and on the furniture. Text reads, “Route 91 Harvest festival, Las Vegas.” — Route 91 Harvest festival, Las Vegas

A drum magazine is seen on a carpeted floor. Six white cards used as evidence markers are placed next to unspent rounds. Text reads, “Century 16 movie theater, Aurora." — Century 16 movie theater, Aurora

Bullet casings litter the corner of a church floor. The red carpet is covered in debris. Text reads, “First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs.” — First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs

Note to readers

The next section includes photographs where you can see the blood and destruction that remain after bodies have been removed from the scene of an AR-15 shooting.

PART 2

THE ATTACK UNFOLDS

In minutes, injured and dead fall to the floor. Some are able to flee, others are rushed to safety by police. Smoke from the rifle fills the air. The Post obtained never-before-published photographs from Robb Elementary School classrooms 111 and 112 in Uvalde. They show the carnage left behind, including the large volume of blood that collects. The photos, along with personal accounts describing young children’s lifeless bodies, echo descriptions provided 11 years earlier by witnesses at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Robb Elementary School, Uvalde

I was stunned. I was hurt. I couldn’t move. Two kids fell on my back. Another two kids fell on those two kids’ back. We were stacked up right here like cordwood. David Colbath, church congregant. Sutherland Springs.

I saw my right arm get blown open in two places and my right hand. The pain was the worst pain I ever felt. I looked at it as I felt it, and it looked like shredded raw meat. And there was a lot of blood. Andrea Wedner, synagogue congregant. Pittsburgh.

It was a war zone and there was injured, there was blood everywhere. There was magazines, there was bullets. Danielle Gilbert, high school student. Parkland.

I notice on the whiteboard it looked like somebody had taken, like, their hand and, like, it just, it was wrote in blood — it looked like they wrote LOL on the whiteboard. Travis Shrewsbury, Border Patrol agent. Uvalde.

Inside classroom 111, long streaks of blood are seen on a tiled floor. A basketball and school supplies and bullet casings are strewn on the floor. Above a whiteboard in the back of the room a sign reads, “Mr. Reyes” next to a Texas state flag. One the whiteboard in blood, reads “LOL.” Text reads, “Robb Elementary School, Uvalde.” — Robb Elementary School, Uvalde

Inside classroom 112, children’s desks are haphazardly pushed to one side. The desks are covered in a thin layer of dust. School paper, water bottles and other classroom supplies are seen on top of the desks and on the floor. Two bouquets of flowers sit on one desk. In the back left corner of the room is a dark red pool of blood. A shoe and yellow evidence markers are seen amid the blood. Text reads, “Robb Elementary School, Uvalde.” — Robb Elementary School, Uvalde

Wet and dried blood is seen on a classroom floor mixed with green evidence markers. The gloved hands and the covered shoes of two workers can been seen. A pair of Nike branded shoe is lying on the floor, its white surface covered in blood. Text reads, “Robb Elementary School, Uvalde.” — Robb Elementary School, Uvalde

A gold bullet casing is seen on a classroom floor surrounded by blood and an evidence marker in the shape of a ruler. The bullet appears to be about 5 millimeters in length. Text reads, “Robb Elementary School, Uvalde.” — Robb Elementary School, Uvalde

An AR-15, sprinkled with white dust, is seen discarded on top of school supplies inside a classroom closet. Orange evidence marks are placed next to the gun and a rifle magazine. Text reads, “Robb Elementary School, Uvalde.” — Robb Elementary School, Uvalde

Inside a hallway of an elementary school, blood is smeared on the tiled floor. A thin layer of white debris covers the edges of the floor and the top of a child’s desk. On the hallway walls are children’s artwork. One post is of a gum ball machine with cutout lettering that reads, “wel-gum to 4th grade.” Text reads, “Robb Elementary School, Uvalde.” — Robb Elementary School, Uvalde

I could hear a little girl say, ‘Officers come in, we’re in here,’ and she sounded far away so I knew it was in the other room. And she said that once. And then maybe two or three minutes later she said it again. And then I just heard him walk into that other room. And he shot some more. So after that I didn’t hear her no more. And so I had figured he had killed her. Arnulfo Reyes, teacher. Uvalde.

My breathing was changing, it was getting more shallow, more rapid. I was salivating. I was losing my ability to expand my lungs. I was drooling. The pressure in my abdomen was getting greater by the minute and through my rectum. I felt that I was leaving. ... I felt that I was dying. Daniel Leger, synagogue congregant. Pittsburgh.

I could hear people screaming, and I could hear people — you know, last words were uttered, things that were — fear, and just really awful sounds. And then it eventually started getting quieter. And that was the worst part. Was knowing that the quiet meant the worst. Morgan Workman, church congregant. Sutherland Springs.

After a while, I could see she was shot and she wasn’t going to survive. … I kissed my fingers, and I touched my fingers to her skin. ... I cried out, ‘Mommy.’ Andrea Wedner, synagogue congregant. Pittsburgh.

An AR-15 rests on the floor near a file cabinet and children’s workbooks that say, “Welcome to Modern Hebrew.” Text reads, “Tree of Life synagogue, Pittsburgh. — Tree of Life synagogue, Pittsburgh

Blood stains a sidewalk that is strewn with evidence markers, blue plastic gloves and a crumpled white cloth. A car parked near the sidewalk has a few streaks of blood on the passenger side door. Text reads, “Oregon Historic District, Dayton.” — Oregon Historic District, Dayton

Two 6- or 7-years-old girls followed by two older, taller boys came out the east exit and approached. One little girl was heavily blood spattered and dazed. … Her friend said that she was all right and ‘stuff got on her.’ ... I told the two to hold hands and go. Paul Lukienchuk, state trooper. Newtown.

The kids, some are scared, some are quiet, some are crying, some don’t know what’s going on. Some thought it was a practice fire drill. But they were ready to see us. … We told them: ‘Single file. Get your kids. Let’s go. Let’s go. Let’s go.’ Alexander Cuellar, Border Patrol agent. Uvalde.

Elementary school children in uniform, holding hands as they walk in a single file as police officers direct them. Text reads, “The Covenant School, Nashville, Tennessee. March 27, 2023. 6 killed.” — The Covenant School, Nashville. March 27, 2023. 6 killed.

Elementary school children walk in a single-file line, with their hands on each other’s shoulders as police officers direct them. Text reads: “Sandy Hook Elementary School. Newtown, Connecticut. December 14, 2012. 26 killed. — Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Conn. Dec. 14, 2012. 26 killed.

They came, these three police officers with long guns. ... I was instructed to unlock the door and to raise my hands and we all came out at gunpoint and were evacuated. Marcus Kergosien, store manager. Allen.

As I exit the classroom, there’s two more bodies on the right-hand side in the hallway, a girl and a boy both face down. Danielle Gilbert, high school student. Parkland.

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Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland

It was emergency vehicle sounds, and I couldn’t even look up. I looked at my feet, and the cold air in my chest, we had no coats and we were running toward the firehouse and it was — we didn’t know that it was over, so the trauma continued there. And then it’s just the worst scene you can imagine. You had chaos, and kids couldn’t find their siblings. Abbey Clements, teacher. Newtown.

I remember when we ran out and there was the police. … The look on his face, the terror on his face. He had people under his car. In his car. And I remember him just screaming: ‘Run for your fucking lives. Do not stop.’ ... I remember my mouth being bone dry and my lungs were burning and I was so physically uncomfortable and I was so thirsty and I couldn’t stop. I just kept running and running and running. Heather Brown Sallan, vendor. Las Vegas.

He threw me down on the ground and got on top of me. … I think that moment was him grabbing my face and saying, ‘This is happening, like there are actual bullets flying at us now.’ ... I just remember that feeling, I swear it was the moment that photo was taken, when he opened my eyes to what was actually happening. Dani Westerman, concertgoer. Las Vegas.

Dani Westerman lies on her back on black pavement outdoors at night. A man in a red T-shirt and jeans lies on top of her, covering her body with his. He is brushing his hand over her cheek and leaning his face close to hers. Plastic water bottles and cups are strewn around them. Text reads, “Route 91 Harvest festival, Las Vegas.” — Route 91 Harvest festival, Las Vegas

PART 3

DEVASTATION

When the shooting ends, police, coroners and other first responders bear witness to the destruction. They check for signs of life, attempting to separate the barely living from the dead. They collect evidence, photograph the scene and remove the bodies. A once familiar place is now forever changed.

An exit door of a movie theater is partially open. On the floor stained with blood is an AR-15 and a pink flip flop. Text reads, “Century 16 movie theater, Aurora.” — Century 16 movie theater, Aurora

The inside of a movie theater where rows of blue seats are pierced with pink and silver rods, used to determine a bullet’s trajectory. Text reads, “Century 16 movie theater, Aurora.” — Century 16 movie theater, Aurora

It was dim. The movie was still playing. The alarm was going off. … I could smell the gas. ... Then I began to notice the bodies. ... There was blood on seats, blood on the wall, blood on the emergency exit door. Pools of blood on the floor. Annette Brook, police officer. Century 16 movie theater, Aurora, Colo.

I walked in there, and you’re, like, slipping and sliding, trying not to slip because it was bad. And just the thing I won’t forget is the smell. Alexander Cuellar, Border Patrol agent. Uvalde.

It looked like a bomb went off in there. When you can tell the difference between, you know, when somebody is alive and somebody is dead, it’s because there were pieces of people just laying everywhere. And those were the dead ones. The ones that were alive were barely moving but were moving. Rusty Duncan, volunteer firefighter. Sutherland Springs.

A field at an outdoor concert venue is seen emptied at night. Bodies are spread across the ground, some huddled together. They are seen at a distance and it is not clear if the people are dead, wounded or aiding others. The field is also strewn with trash and abandoned items. There is a fence alongside the field. Just outside of the fence are two groups of people crouching down. One group is surrounding another person on the ground. In the background is the Las Vegas skyline. Text reads, “Route 91 Harvest festival, Las Vegas.” — Route 91 Harvest festival, Las Vegas

We were standing there looking at the scene and the phones kept ringing and ringing and ringing in the backpacks and on the desk of the parents calling their children. ... They kept calling and calling and calling. Eulalio Diaz, justice of the peace and coroner. Uvalde.

As we were clearing the rooms, we came across a classroom which I thought at first was an art room because I saw a lot of red paint all over the walls and in the far left corner I thought I observed a pile of dirty laundry. … As I continued to stare at the room not being able to figure out what I was looking at, I realized that the red paint was actually blood and the pile of dirty laundry were actually dead bodies. Carlo Guerra, state trooper. Newtown.

As I stared in disbelief, I recognized the face of a little boy on top of a pile. ... I then began to realize that there were other children around the little boy and that this was actually a pile of dead children. … I tried to count the number of dead between rooms #10 and #8, but my mind would not count beyond the low teens and I kept getting confused. William Cario, police sergeant. Newtown.

You can only imagine that gun being pointed down and shooting as much as you can into a body, what it would do. It’ll make you unrecognizable in a heartbeat. So, yes, I believe it, because I saw it with my own eyes. Rusty Duncan, volunteer firefighter. Sutherland Springs.

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About this story

Reporting by Silvia Foster-Frau, N. Kirkpatrick and Arelis R. Hernández. Additional reporting by Jon Gerberg, Holly Bailey, Robert Klemko, John Harden, Jon Swaine, Elyse Samuels, Sarah Cahlan, Joyce Lee and John Woodrow Cox. Public records requests by Nate Jones.

Design and development by Shikha Subramaniam and Aadit Tambe. Design editing by Madison Walls and Matthew Callahan. Visual editing by Kainaz Amaria. Additional photo editing by Robert Miller and Natalia Jimenez. Additional video editing by Angela M. Hill.

Editing by Peter Wallsten, Rosalind S. Helderman, Kainaz Amaria and Wendy Galietta. Additional editing by Jordan Melendrez, Brian Cleveland, Kim Chapman and Tom Justice. Additional support from Sarah Murray, Ashleigh Wilson, Kyley Schultz and Brandon Carter.

The following people were interviewed by The Post: Jaydien Canizales, Abbey Clements, David Colbath, Eulalio Diaz, Rusty Duncan, Danielle Gilbert, Dion Green, Marcus Kergosien, Arnulfo Reyes, Heather Brown Sallan, Dallas Schwartz, Daniel Seijas, Dani Westerman, Maddy Wilford and Morgan Workman. Seijas was interviewed in Spanish.

Comments from Annette Brook, Anthony Burke, Daniel Leger and Andrea Wedner are drawn from court testimony. Comments from William Cario, Alexander Cuellar, Carlo Guerra, Paul Lukienchuk and Travis Shrewsbury are drawn from police investigative files.

While other weapons, including various types of semiautomatic rifles, are used in violent crimes, AR-15s have been used in 10 of the 18 shootings since 2012 in which 10 or more people were killed — making it the most commonly used weapon in the country’s deadliest mass killings. This data is drawn from a database maintained by the AP, USA Today and Northeastern University and analyzed by The Post.

Photo and video credits:

Introduction: Office of the District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District of Colorado; David Becker/Getty Images; and Texas Department of Public Safety/Obtained by The Post.

Part 1: Texas Department of Public Safety/Obtained by The Post; Connecticut State Police; U.S. Justice Department; Dayton Police Department; Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department; and Office of the District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District of Colorado. Videos by Las Vegas Video Archive/YouTube; Danielle Gilbert.

Part 2: Texas Department of Public Safety/Obtained by The Post; Dayton Police Department, Jonathan Mattise/AP; Shannon Hicks/Newtown Bee/Polaris; David Becker/Getty Images. Video by Ryan Deitsch via Storyful.

Part 3: Office of the District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District of Colorado; Texas Department of Public Safety/Obtained by The Post.

Texas Department of Safety photographs were not released by the agency but were separately obtained by The Post.

Crime scene photos from the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh have been cropped to remove labels placed by investigators.

The video provided by Danielle Gilbert from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland was originally played in open court during the trial of the gunman. The Post spoke to four people who were in the classroom including Maddy Wilford, who identified herself as one of the wounded students who can be heard in the video.

The photograph of the large field strewn with bodies from the Route 91 Harvest festival in Las Vegas was posted on Reddit and 4chan on Oct. 2, 2017, the day after the shooting. The Post verified the time and location of the photograph by comparing it to body-camera footage, social media videos, police reports and other pictures taken at the scene. The Post could not determine the original online post or the photographer. The Post consulted Siwei Lyu, a computer science and engineering professor at the University at Buffalo and an expert on photo and video manipulation, who found no signs of manipulation.