Newly released data shows gun violence injuries on the rise in Virginia

New data from the Virginia Department of Health shows an increase in the number of gun-related injuries seen in local hospitals.

In Virginia, emergency room visits for gun-related injuries are on the rise. According to new data, last year, there were more than 2,800 firearm injuries, up 9% from 2020.



The rise in injuries appears to have started in 2019, rising by 24% from the year before and then again by 28% in 2020.

In Fairfax County, there were 76 incidents in 2021, a 15% increase from the year before. And there have been 25 incidents so far this year. In Loudoun County, there was a 57% increase in gun-related injuries presented to the emergency department compared to 2020.

There were 22 injuries last year and six so far this year.

In Prince William County, gun-related injuries rose 55% in 2020, then again by 13% in 2021. There were 22 reported this year so far.

Valerie Bonk

Valerie Bonk started working at WTOP in 2016 and has lived in Howard County, Maryland, her entire life. She's thrilled to be a reporter for WTOP telling stories on air. She works as both a television and radio reporter in the Maryland and D.C. areas. 

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