Editor’s note: this is part two of a three-part series looking at gun violence data from the University of New Mexico Hospital. Part one can be found here and part three can be found here.
In order to get a sense of the toll of gun violence from around the state, City Desk ABQ combed through three years’ worth of data on the people University of New Mexico Hospital treated. The data was obtained by attorney Thomas Grover.
More patients arrive at UNMH with gunshot wounds on Saturday and Sunday than during the week, the data shows. The day with the lowest number of patients was Tuesday, whereas the highest was Sunday — a number of whom arrived overnight.
Summer months — July and August especially — saw the highest number of gunshot wound patients with almost two a day. February and November had the lowest number of patients, averaging 1.2 a day.
Certain holidays also saw big spikes. On New Year’s Day 2021, seven patients were admitted to UNMH with gunshot wounds. Fourth of July of the same year saw five patients, with another four the following day. On Halloween 2021 eight patients were admitted.
But other dates were more random, for instance the day with the most patients admitted — nine — was Aug. 28, 2022.