As of December 9, 314 school shooting incidents were recorded in K-12 schools in the United States in 2024. Within the provided time period, the greatest number of K-12 school shootings was recorded in 2023, at 349. The source defines a school shooting as every time a gun is brandished, fired, or a bullet hits school property for any reason, regardless of the number of victims (including zero), time, day or the week, or reason, including gang shootings, domestic violence, shootings at sports games and after hours school events, suicides, fights that escalate into shootings, and accidents.

As of January 22, one school shooting was recorded in the United States in 2025, impacting K-12 school grounds and college campuses nationwide. In comparison, there were 83 school shooting incidents recorded in 2024. In addition to schools, gun-related violence occurs in many public places within the United States, including workplaces, churches, restaurants, and nightclubs. The source defines school shootings as incidents of gun violence which occurred on school property and at least one person was shot, not including the shooter. School property includes, but is not limited to, buildings, fields, parking lots, stadiums and buses. Accidental discharges of firearms are included, as long as at least one person is shot, but not if the sole shooter is law enforcement or school security.

From 1999 to September 5, 2024, 416 school shootings were recorded in the United States, 392 of which occurred in public schools. Within the provided time period, only 24 shootings were recorded in private schools.

The deadliest school shooting in the United States as of September 4, 2024, was the Virginia Tech massacre, with 32 fatalities and 23 injuries. The next deadliest school shooting (based on fatalities) was the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, with 27 fatalities. School shootings in the U.S. Mass shootings in the United States have become a disturbingly common occurrence, and sadly, so have school shootings. The Columbine school shooting is perhaps the most famous in the country’s history, and since 1999 (when the shooting occurred), the number of school shootings has only increased. Many measures have been used to try to prevent school shootings, including security guards and metal detectors being deployed in schools, and even the suggestion that teachers be allowed to carry guns in schools. Gun control Gun control in the United States is a sticky issue, since gun ownership is enshrined in the Constitution. Some advocate for stricter gun control laws to try to prevent future mass shootings, while others say that this is unconstitutional. Gun ownership rates in the U.S. are high, with the share of American households owning at least one firearm remaining relatively steady since 1972.

This study provides an evidence-based understanding on etiological issues related to school shootings and rampage shootings. It created a national, open-source database that includes all publicly known shootings that resulted in at least one injury that occurred on K-12 school grounds between 1990 and 2016. The investigators sought to better understand the nature of the problem and clarify the types of shooting incidents occurring in schools, provide information on the characteristics of school shooters, and compare fatal shooting incidents to events where only injuries resulted to identify intervention points that could be exploited to reduce the harm caused by shootings. To accomplish these objectives, the investigators used quantitative multivariate and qualitative case studies research methods to document where and when school violence occurs, and highlight key incident and perpetrator level characteristics to help law enforcement and school administrators differentiate between the kinds of school shootings that exist, to further policy responses that are appropriate for individuals and communities.

As of June 2022, there were 153 school shootings in total in the United States in that year. Of these incidents, only two were active shooter incidents. The largest number of active shooter incidents in schools was in 2018, with 11 active shooters.

The source defines a shooting as any time a gun is brandished, fired, or a bullet hits school property for any reason.

THIS DATASET WAS LAST UPDATED AT 8:10 PM EASTERN ON MARCH 24

OVERVIEW

2019 had the most mass killings since at least the 1970s, according to the Associated Press/USA TODAY/Northeastern University Mass Killings Database.

In all, there were 45 mass killings, defined as when four or more people are killed excluding the perpetrator. Of those, 33 were mass shootings . This summer was especially violent, with three high-profile public mass shootings occurring in the span of just four weeks, leaving 38 killed and 66 injured.

A total of 229 people died in mass killings in 2019.

The AP's analysis found that more than 50% of the incidents were family annihilations, which is similar to prior years. Although they are far less common, the 9 public mass shootings during the year were the most deadly type of mass murder, resulting in 73 people's deaths, not including the assailants.

One-third of the offenders died at the scene of the killing or soon after, half from suicides.

About this Dataset

The Associated Press/USA TODAY/Northeastern University Mass Killings database tracks all U.S. homicides since 2006 involving four or more people killed (not including the offender) over a short period of time (24 hours) regardless of weapon, location, victim-offender relationship or motive. The database includes information on these and other characteristics concerning the incidents, offenders, and victims.

The AP/USA TODAY/Northeastern database represents the most complete tracking of mass murders by the above definition currently available. Other efforts, such as the Gun Violence Archive or Everytown for Gun Safety may include events that do not meet our criteria, but a review of these sites and others indicates that this database contains every event that matches the definition, including some not tracked by other organizations.

This data will be updated periodically and can be used as an ongoing resource to help cover these events.

Using this Dataset

To get basic counts of incidents of mass killings and mass shootings by year nationwide, use these queries:

Mass killings by year

Mass shootings by year

To get these counts just for your state:

Filter killings by state

Definition of "mass murder"

Mass murder is defined as the intentional killing of four or more victims by any means within a 24-hour period, excluding the deaths of unborn children and the offender(s). The standard of four or more dead was initially set by the FBI.

This definition does not exclude cases based on method (e.g., shootings only), type or motivation (e.g., public only), victim-offender relationship (e.g., strangers only), or number of locations (e.g., one). The time frame of 24 hours was chosen to eliminate conflation with spree killers, who kill multiple victims in quick succession in different locations or incidents, and to satisfy the traditional requirement of occurring in a “single incident.”

Offenders who commit mass murder during a spree (before or after committing additional homicides) are included in the database, and all victims within seven days of the mass murder are included in the victim count. Negligent homicides related to driving under the influence or accidental fires are excluded due to the lack of offender intent. Only incidents occurring within the 50 states and Washington D.C. are considered.

Methodology

Project researchers first identified potential incidents using the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Supplementary Homicide Reports (SHR). Homicide incidents in the SHR were flagged as potential mass murder cases if four or more victims were reported on the same record, and the type of death was murder or non-negligent manslaughter.

Cases were subsequently verified utilizing media accounts, court documents, academic journal articles, books, and local law enforcement records obtained through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Each data point was corroborated by multiple sources, which were compiled into a single document to assess the quality of information.

In case(s) of contradiction among sources, official law enforcement or court records were used, when available, followed by the most recent media or academic source.

Case information was subsequently compared with every other known mass murder database to ensure reliability and validity. Incidents listed in the SHR that could not be independently verified were excluded from the database.

Project researchers also conducted extensive searches for incidents not reported in the SHR during the time period, utilizing internet search engines, Lexis-Nexis, and Newspapers.com. Search terms include: [number] dead, [number] killed, [number] slain, [number] murdered, [number] homicide, mass murder, mass shooting, massacre, rampage, family killing, familicide, and arson murder. Offender, victim, and location names were also directly searched when available.

This project started at USA TODAY in 2012.

Contacts

Contact AP Data Editor Justin Myers with questions, suggestions or comments about this dataset at jmyers@ap.org. The Northeastern University researcher working with AP and USA TODAY is Professor James Alan Fox, who can be reached at j.fox@northeastern.edu or 617-416-4400.

As of July 22, 2024, there have been a total of 270 school shootings in California since 1966, the most out of any state. Texas had the second highest number of school shootings within this time period, with 225 shootings. The source defines a school shooting as every time a gun is brandished, fired, or a bullet hits school property for any reason, regardless of the number of victims (including zero), time, day or the week, or reason, including gang shootings, domestic violence, shootings at sports games and after hours school events, suicides, fights that escalate into shootings, and accidents.

Between 1970 and June 16, 2020, 175 school shootings were perpetrated by 17-year-olds. 16-year-olds perpetrated the second highest number of school shootings, with 163 shootings.

From 2008 to March 6, 2024, the District of Columbia had the highest rate of school shootings nationwide, totaling around 0.7 school shootings per 100,000 residents. Louisiana, Delaware, Alabama, and Maryland rounded out the top five states with the highest school shooting rates relative to their populations. In contrast, there were no school shootings recorded in Montana, Wyoming, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island within the provided time period. In addition to K-12 schools and college campuses, gun-related violence in the United States often occurs at workplaces, places of worship, and restaurants and bars.

The source defines school shootings as incidents of gun violence which occurred on school property, from kindergartens through colleges/universities, and at least one person was shot, not including the shooter. School property includes, but is not limited to, buildings, fields, parking lots, stadiums and buses. Accidental discharges of firearms are included, as long as at least one person is shot, but not if the sole shooter is law enforcement or school security.

From 2000 to 2022, a total number of 777 high schools had shootings in the United States. In comparison, 320 elementary schools and 162 middle or junior high schools had shootings within that time period.

Mass shootings in the United States

Schooling shootings have become a disturbingly common occurrence in the United States. The frequency of these instances relative to other developed countries highlights a potentially systemic problem. Mass shootings in general have become a persistent problem in the U.S., often occurring at nightclubs, bars, and grocery stores, in addition to educational institutions. As a result, the fear of getting shot at a school or a college has now spread even further, impacting Americans' daily lives and routines nationwide.

Gun culture in the U.S. The majority of mass shooters in the United States are White and male. The most common type of weapon used in mass shootings in the U.S. is a handgun and the evidence suggests that the majority of the weapons used in mass shootings are obtained legally, bringing the availability of firearms into the spotlight. However, due to the Second Amendment of the Constitution which provides citizens with the right to bear arms, it seems unlikely that any gun control legislation will be passed on a national level. While some U.S. states have enacted their own gun safety policies, it is unlikely that America's gun problem will be solved unless the nation is able to work together.

Between 1966 and November 4, 2024, 862 victims were wounded while 257 victims were killed during K-12 school shootings resulting from an escalation of dispute, defined as a situation in which there was a physical or verbal altercation between the shooter and the victim(s) before the shooting or where shots were fired in retaliation for a previous attack, in the United States. Indiscriminate shootings, where the shooter intends to kill as many people as possible with no particular target, have also been highlighted as a significant source of harm in K-12 schools, with approximately 564 victims either wounded or killed within the provided time period. In comparison, school shootings attributed to anger over getting bad grades or facing disciplinary measures typically lead to a scenario in which teachers or school administrators are the primary targets of school shooters. Totaling less than 100 victims, this type of situation also encompasses shootings carried out by school employees against coworkers or superiors after poor performance evaluations, suspensions, or job losses.

Between 1966 and July 22, 2024, 406 school shootings took place during morning classes. During this same time period, 271 school shootings took place during afternoon classes. The source defines a shooting as any time a gun is brandished, fired, or a bullet hits school property for any reason, regardless of the number of victims, time, or day of week, including gang shootings, domestic violence, shootings at sports games and afterhours school events, suicides, fights that escalate into shootings, and accidents.

From school years 2009-10 to 2018-19, 41 percent of shootings which occurred in K-12 schools where minority students made up 75 percent or more of the school population were dispute or grievance related in the United States. In contrast, only four percent of shootings which took place in K-12 schools with less than 25 percent minority enrollment were dispute or grievance related. Within the provided time period, low-minority schools were most likely to have school shootings which were school-targeted, at 38 percent. School-targeted shootings describe shootings that are generally targeted toward school staff or students on school premises, without a specific victim in mind, including active shooter incidents, incidents of a hostage standoff, and indiscriminate shootings against school staff and personnel. Suicides or attempted suicides were also more prevalent in low-minority schools, at 23 percent, compared to only three percent in high-minority schools.

The source defines a school shooting as 'any time a gun is fired on school grounds, on a school bus, or during a school event - during school hours or a school event or immediately before or after school hours or school event - including all incidents that meet the criteria above, including accidents and suicides, regardless of intent.'

Aineistossa on kartoitettu suomalaisten uutismedioiden toimittajien ammatillisia kokemuksia, arvoja sekä näkemyksiä median tavoitteista ja eettisistä haasteista väkivalta- ja erityisesti koulusurmauutisoinnissa. Kysely on toteutettu osana Turun yliopiston Pohjois-Amerikan tutkimuksen John Morton -keskuksen Tragediauutisoinnin haasteet - median mahdollisuudet käsitellä kouluampumisia (#TRAGE) tutkimushanketta. Tutkimus on Helsingin Sanomain säätiön rahoittama. Aluksi vastaajilta kysyttiin, kuinka usein he tuottavat journalistista sisältöä väkivaltatapauksista ja mikä on heidän mielestään toimittajan tehtävä. Lisäksi tiedusteltiin vastaajien kokemusta journalistisesta vapaudesta ja ammatillisesta itsenäisyydestä. Aineistossa kartoitettiin laajasti vastaajien näkemyksiä eettisestä journalismista: avokysymyksissä kysyttiin esimerkiksi, mitkä ovat vastaajan mielestä suurimpia eettisiä haasteita ja toisaalta mitkä keskeisimpiä journalistisia tavoitteita kouluampumisten ja vastaavien tragedioiden uutisoinnissa. Lisäksi useissa kysymyksissä selvitettiin vastaajan näkemystä siitä, miten uhreja ja epäiltyä tulisi käsitellä mediassa. Vastaajilta tiedusteltiin myös heidän taustaorganisaatioidensa toimintatapoja tragediauutisoinnissa sekä miten he itse käsittelevät traagisten aiheiden käsittelystä aiheutunutta stressiä. Lopuksi kysyttiin, onko vastaajan Twitterin käytöstä sekä kuinka paljon vastaaja näkee sosiaalisen median muuttaneen journalismia. Taustamuuttujina aineistossa ovat ikä, sukupuoli, työkokemus, vastaajan organisaation pääasiallinen kohdeyleisö, onko organisaatio alueellinen vai paikallinen, vastaajan rooli organisaatiossaan ja yleisin formaatti, jossa vastaaja tuottaa uutisia, sekä edellisissä vaaleissa äänestetty puolue. The survey charted the professional experiences, values and opinions of journalists working for Finnish news media regarding the objectives of the media and the ethical challenges when reporting on cases of violence, specifically school shootings. The survey was conducted as part of the #TRAGE research project by the University of Turku John Morton Center for North American Studies. The project examines the media's reporting on school shootings and aims to open a new avenue for discussing the challenges posed by such reporting. The project is funded by the Helsingin Sanomat Foundation. First, the respondents were asked how often they had reported on cases of violence or on school shootings, how independently they could plan and carry out journalistic content, and whether they felt they had enough journalistic freedom. Questions also focused on what the respondents thought were the biggest challenges in reporting school shootings and whether they thought there had been a specific shooting that changed the way tragedy is reported. Additionally, the respondents were asked whether tragedy journalism and its conventions and impacts had been separately discussed in their organisation. The survey also extensively charted the journalists' views on ethical journalism with questions on, for instance, whether they thought it possible that one set of ethical guidelines could be applied by all journalists globally and what they thought were the best tools for preparing a journalist to create ethical content (e.g. ethical guidelines, workshops or supplementary education, advice from a colleague). Next, the respondents were asked what they thought was essential information that should be published when reporting on tragedy (e.g. suspect's name or photo, names or photos of victims). Views on the motivation and reasons behind school shootings were examined, and the respondents were asked whether they were familiar with and adhered to the 'No notoriety' principle. Furthermore, the respondents' opinions on what should be taken into particular consideration when dealing with underage victims and what kind of responsibilities a journalist has when reporting on traumatising events were surveyed. Finally, the respondents were asked how they dealt with the stress caused by reporting on tragedy, whether they had a personal Twitter account and how openly they shared their personal opinions on their Twitter account, and whether they thought social media had changed journalism. Background variables included the respondent's age, gender, work experience, role at work, and which political party they voted for in the last elections. Additionally, background information was collected on the format in which the respondent usually published news content, the primary target audience of the news media/organisation they worked for, and whether the news media/organisation was local or regional.

From 1999 to September 2024, 38.1 percent of White students had experienced a school shooting in the United States. Within that time period, 33 percent of Black students had also experienced a school shooting, despite making up less than 15 percent of the public school population.

As of September 4, there were two mass shootings in the United States in 2024. This is compared to one mass shooting in 1982, one in 2000, and 12 mass shootings in 2022 and 2023. School shootings The United States sees the most school shootings in the world. Some motivations for school shootings included depression, seeking revenge, and bullying. As a result of the large amount of school shootings, gun control has become a central topic in U.S. politics. This widespread problem happens across the United States; however California saw the highest number of K-12 school shootings in the United States since 1970. However, the deadliest school shooting (as of October 2023) was the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007. This tragedy left 33 dead and 23 injured. Mass shooting issues Mass shootings happen when there are several injuries or deaths from a firearm-related violence. Throughout the last century, mass shootings have become an epidemic in the United States. However, despite the increase in mass shootings and number of casualties, the U.S. government has done little to prevent future shootings from happening. As a result of the lack of cooperation in politics, mass shootings have become an important issue for Generation Z living in the United States. Furthermore, having the right to bear arms is a popular belief in the U.S. and the percentage of households in the United States owning at least one firearm has remained somewhat steady since 1972.

Between 1966 and July 22, 2024, students were the most likely offenders of K-12 school shootings in the United States, accounting for 38.5 percent of the shootings that took place in elementary and secondary schools. Within the provided time period, over three percent of K-12 school shootings were perpetrated by a parent, while 2.8 percent were committed by a former student. The source defines a school shooting as every time a gun is brandished, fired, or a bullet hits school property for any reason, regardless of the number of victims (including zero), time, day or the week, or reason, including gang shootings, domestic violence, shootings at sports games and after hours school events, suicides, fights that escalate into shootings, and accidents.

Averaged number (per snapshot) of nodes, edges, degree, and density of the networks, and distribution of neutral and pro-/cons- taking the knee nodes’ leaning attributes.

Between 1982 and September 2024, 82 out of the 151 mass shootings in the United States were carried out by White shooters. By comparison, the perpetrator was African American in 26 mass shootings, and Latino in 12. When calculated as percentages, this amounts to 54 percent, 17 percent, and eight percent respectively. Race of mass shooters reflects the U.S. population Broadly speaking, the racial distribution of mass shootings mirrors the racial distribution of the U.S. population as a whole. While a superficial comparison of the statistics seems to suggest African American shooters are over-represented and Latino shooters underrepresented, the fact that the shooter’s race is unclear in around nine percent of cases, along with the different time frames over which these statistics are calculated, means no such conclusions should be drawn. Conversely, looking at the mass shootings in the United States by gender clearly demonstrates that the majority of mass shootings are carried out by men. Mass shootings and mental health With no clear patterns between the socio-economic or cultural background of mass shooters, increasing attention has been placed on mental health. Analysis of the factors Americans considered to be to blame for mass shootings showed 80 percent of people felt the inability of the mental health system to recognize those who pose a danger to others was a significant factor. This concern is not without merit – in over half of the mass shootings since 1982, the shooter showed prior signs of mental health issues, suggesting improved mental health services may help deal with this horrific problem. Mass shootings and guns In the wake of multiple mass shootings, critics have sought to look beyond the issues of shooter identification and their influences by focusing on their access to guns. The majority of mass shootings in the U.S. involve firearms which were obtained legally, reflecting the easy ability of Americans to purchase and carry deadly weapons in public. Gun control takes on a particular significance when the uniquely American phenomenon of school shootings is considered. The annual number of incidents involving firearms at K-12 schools in the U.S. was over 100 in each year since 2018. Conversely, similar incidents in other developed countries exceptionally rare, with only five school shootings in G7 countries other than the U.S. between 2009 and 2018.