The Boulder shooting highlights the looming threat of violence for retail workers in America

A gunman opened fire at a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, killing 10 people.
In 2018, 89 people working in sales positions, such as cashiers, were killed in workplace homicides.
The pandemic has brought new threats for retail and restaurant workers.
See more stories on Insider's business page.

A shooting at a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colorado highlights the dangers retail workers face on the job.

On Monday, a gunman opened fire at the grocery store, killing 10 people. Law enforcement authorities said in a press conference on Tuesday that the investigation is ongoing, and a suspect in currently in custody.

The Boulder shooting is the deadliest in the US in almost two years. However, violence is a common threat in the retail industry.

In 2018, 89 people working in sales and related occupations were killed in workplace homicides, including 46 cashiers, according to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data. An additional 40 people working in restaurants and other food-service related positions were killed at work the same year, which is the most recent the BLS has on record.

For comparison, 49 police officers were killed on the job in 2018. Roughly 77% of all workplace homicides in 2018 were related to shootings.

Part of the reason why roughly the same number of cashiers and police officers were killed on the job is that there are simply many more cashiers working across the US than police officers. However, violence at work - especially gun violence - is a serious, ongoing problem.

A Chicago shooting spree in January ended with four dead, including a woman who was shot in the face inside a IHOP. In February, two people were killed in a shooting at a gun store in Louisiana. A 20-year-old woman was killed in a shooting at Walmart in late February in Pennsylvania.

"For the last year our members and other associates have fought an invisible enemy, COVID-19, but today several innocent souls were killed by an evil human," Kim Cordova, the president of UFCW Local 7, which represents employees at the King Soopers Store, said in a statement.

Grocery store workers have 'lived in fear'

Workers have faced new fears on the job over the last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"No one should have to fear for their lives while they grocery shop or go to work every day," said Cordova. "Unfortunately, our grocery members, frontline Essential Workers, have lived in fear each and every day during the pandemic."

According to UFCW, at least 34,700 grocery workers have been infected or exposed to COVID-19 during the pandemic, with at least 155 people dying.

Grocery workers have also faced harassment and violence when attempting to enforce mask mandates.

Viral videos show customers throwing tantrums and destroying displays at stores including Costco, Target, and Trader Joe's. Threats reached such a volume that the CDC released guidance on how to protect retail and restaurant workers from violent anti-mask customers.

Cordova said that the shooting also "highlights and shines a light on the best of human nature."

"There are news reports that after gunshots rang out, grocery workers helped customers in the store find safety, directing shoppers to an exit at the back of the store, and assisted one another to escape the danger inside," Cordova said.

"The entire Kroger family offers our thoughts, prayers and support to our associates, customers, and the first responders who so bravely responded to this tragic situation," said a spokeswoman for Kroger, which owns the King Soopers brand. She said the company is cooperating with law enforcement and will keep the store closed during the police investigation.

Read the original article on Business Insider