What began as a Kentucky mother’s 21st birthday celebration for her son quickly turned tragic in Florence, Ky., on Saturday, according to the Florence Police Department.

Four people were killed and three more injured, according to reports. Accused shooter Chase Garvey is also deceased.

The shooting in Florence is the 20th mass killing in the United States this year, according to a database maintained by the Associated Press and USA Today.

Kentucky shooting: A ‘beautiful soul’ — Sister mourns Shane Miller, killed in Florence mass shooting

Here’s what you need to know:

Florence, Ky. shooting: What we know about Saturday, July 6

Florence Police Department Chief Jeff Mallery described the scene in Kentucky, nearly 90 miles northeast of Louisville and 11 miles south of Cincinnati.

Officers responded to a call of shots fired around 2:50 a.m. Saturday, July 6 in Florence, Ky. Multiple victims were discovered at a 21st birthday party at the residence of Melissa Parrett, who was among the deceased, according to Mallery.

Partygoers informed officers that the suspected shooter was 21-year-old Chase Garvey, and he had fled the scene.

An officer joined by a Boone County Sheriff’s officer located the vehicle and attempted to stop Garvey, but he once again fled the scene. According to police, Garvey then shot himself and crashed the vehicle, dying from his injuries at an area hospital.  

Police believe Garvey was acting alone and currently have no known motivation for the shootings.

Police weren’t initially aware of any connections to partygoers and don’t believe Garvey was an invited guest. However, Paris Miller — the sister of victim Shane Miller — told media that another victim, Delaney Eary, was Garvey’s ex-girlfriend.

“This is the first time we’ve had a mass shooting in Florence, so it is very emotional,” Mallery said. “And my emotions are for the victims and families, the officers that responded and everybody that was touched by this situation.” 

“Our officers aren’t much older than the victims,” he said. “So as far as the department and the city will do a debriefing with all the officers that responded and offer any assistance to talk with peer support or medical assistance or anything like that.”  

2024 Kentucky shooting deaths at Florence birthday party

The Florence Police Department provided a list of deceased victims from the mass shooting on Saturday, July 6:

• Melissa Parrett, 44, from Florence, Kentucky.
• Shane Miller, 20, from Florence, Kentucky.
• Hayden Rybicki, 20, from Elsmere, Kentucky. 
• Delaney Eary, 19, from Burlington, Kentucky.

Miller had this to say about her brother and Eary.

“I want them to all know how loving and caring (Shane) was, how much he loved everybody close to him,” Paris Miller said.

As for Eary: “She always had the brightest, biggest smile, just like Shane.”

How are the other Florence, Ky., shooting victims?

The three other shooting victims were transported to UC Medical Center in Cincinnati and in stable condition. Police said the victims are expected to make a full recovery.

Who was Florence, Ky., accused shooter Chase Garvey?

Garvey was a convicted felon, according to Mallery.

Kenton County records reveal Garvey — who was 18 at the time — was arrested and charged in 2021 in the rape of a 13-year-old girl.

Court records show in April 2023 that Garvey was issued 5 years of probation after pleading guilty to a felony — an unlawful transaction with a minor in the second degree.

What is a mass shooting?

Law enforcement tends to view the term “mass shooting” differently than the general public or gun violence groups.

The FBI considers an event to be a mass shooting “when one or more people engage in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area.” Shootings motivated by gang violence, drug violence, domestic disputes or hostage situations are excluded, as well as shootings resulting from another criminal act, such as a bank robbery.

The gun violence prevention organization Everytown For Gun Safety tracks shootings across the U.S. The organization’s definition of a mass shooting is an event where four or more people are killed, excluding the shooter. The group added that: “research and news coverage of these tragic events has expanded greatly, but the question of how to best define a mass shooting remains unsettled.”

Are mass shootings on the rise in the U.S.?

Mass shootings were in a slight decline as of 2022. There were 50 incidents determined to be mass shootings by the FBI in 2022, marking a drop from the 61 occurrences logged in 2021, according to the National Criminal Justice Association.

Chris Sims is a digital producer for the Journal Star. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.