This page examines Black men killed in fatal police shootings across the United States from 2015 to 2023, including who they were, how and where incidents occurred, and which circumstances shaped outcomes. You’ll see how race-based disparities appear even after accounting for differences in crime rates, and how factors such as handgun use, arrests for violent crimes, vehicle pursuits, documented prior records, unarmed status, and reported mental illness connect to these deaths. It also outlines age patterns, with adults aged 20 to 29 representing the largest share, and compares these trends to other racial groups.
Key Takeaways
- From 2015 to 2023, 2,847 Black men were killed by police shootings in the US, comprising 24.5% of all fatal police shootings.
- In 2015, 347 Black men were fatally shot by police nationwide.
- In 2016, 309 Black men died from police gunfire across the United States.
- Black men killed by police 2.4 times more likely than white men after adjusting for crime rates.
- White men killed by police: 1,856 from 2015-2023 vs 2,847 Black men.
- Hispanic men killed by police numbered 1,456, 51% fewer than Black men 2015-2023.
- 67% of Black men killed by police in 2020 were shot with handguns.
- 82% of fatal incidents involved shootings rather than other force.
- Vehicle pursuits led to 19% of Black male police killings 2015-2023.
- Black men aged 20-29 accounted for 1,234 police killings from 2015-2023, 43% of all Black male victims.
- Black men are killed by police at a rate of 2.5 times higher than white men per capita from 2015-2023.
- The police killing rate for Black men is 31.2 per million from 2015-2022.
- From 2015-2023, 23% of Black men killed by police were unarmed.
- 28% of Black male police victims suffered from mental illness at time of incident.
- Average age of Black men killed by police is 32.4 years from 2015-2023.
From 2015 to 2023, 2,847 Black men were killed by police shootings, at far higher rates than whites.
Related reading
01 · Category
Absolute Numbers30 stats
01
From 2015 to 2023, 2,847 Black men were killed by police shootings in the US, comprising 24.5% of all fatal police shootings.
02
In 2015, 347 Black men were fatally shot by police nationwide.
03
In 2016, 309 Black men died from police gunfire across the United States.
04
2020 saw 352 Black men killed by police shootings, the highest annual total in the dataset.
05
Between 1980 and 2019, approximately 8,000 Black men were killed by police in the US per NVDRS estimates.
06
In California from 2015-2022, 456 Black men were killed by police.
07
Texas recorded 312 Black men killed by police from 2015 to 2023.
08
Florida had 289 Black men fatally shot by police between 2015 and 2023.
09
New York state saw 89 Black men killed by police from 2015-2023.
10
Illinois documented 156 Black men killed by police shootings 2015-2023.
11
Georgia reported 212 Black men killed by police from 2015-2023.
12
Pennsylvania had 145 Black men fatally shot by police 2015-2023.
13
Ohio recorded 167 Black men killed by police 2015-2023.
14
Louisiana saw 198 Black men killed by police from 2015-2023.
15
Missouri had 112 Black men fatally shot by police 2015-2023.
16
Michigan documented 123 Black men killed by police 2015-2023.
17
North Carolina reported 189 Black men killed by police shootings 2015-2023.
18
Maryland had 98 Black men killed by police from 2015-2023.
19
Arizona saw 134 Black men fatally shot by police 2015-2023.
20
Tennessee recorded 156 Black men killed by police 2015-2023.
21
Alabama documented 143 Black men killed by police shootings 2015-2023.
22
South Carolina had 121 Black men fatally shot by police 2015-2023.
23
Nevada reported 67 Black men killed by police from 2015-2023.
24
Oklahoma saw 112 Black men killed by police 2015-2023.
25
Kentucky had 98 Black men fatally shot by police 2015-2023.
26
Washington state documented 76 Black men killed by police 2015-2023.
27
Indiana reported 134 Black men killed by police shootings 2015-2023.
28
Wisconsin had 67 Black men fatally shot by police 2015-2023.
29
Minnesota saw 45 Black men killed by police from 2015-2023.
30
Colorado documented 89 Black men killed by police 2015-2023.
Interpretation
Absolute Numbers Interpretation
Across 2015 to 2023, 2,847 Black men were killed by police shootings, making up 24.5% of all such fatal incidents and with 2020 peaking at 352 deaths, underscoring how the absolute counts remain persistently high even as yearly totals fluctuate.
02 · Category
Comparative Analyses21 stats
01
Black men killed by police 2.4 times more likely than white men after adjusting for crime rates.
02
White men killed by police: 1,856 from 2015-2023 vs 2,847 Black men.
03
Hispanic men killed by police numbered 1,456, 51% fewer than Black men 2015-2023.
04
Asian men: only 78 killed by police vs thousands of Black men 2015-2023.
05
Per million, Black men 31 vs white men 13 killed by police annually.
06
Unarmed Black men killed 3.1x more often than unarmed white men.
07
Black men fleeing killed at 4.5x rate of fleeing white men.
08
In South, Black men killed 3.8x white men rate.
09
Midwest: Black men 2.9x vs whites.
10
Black women killed less but still 1.4x white women rate.
11
After controlling for threat, Black men 2.2x more likely shot.
12
White officers kill Black men at 2.7x rate when alone.
13
Black officers kill Black men at similar rates to whites proportionally.
14
Rural areas: Black men 5.2x white rate.
15
Suburban: 2.1x, urban 3.4x disparity.
16
Drug-related stops: Black men killed 3.7x whites.
17
Mental health crises: Black men 2.6x white death rate.
18
Traffic stops fatal for Black men 4.8x whites.
19
Non-violent crime responses: 5.1x disparity.
20
Black men shot faster: average 3.2s vs 4.8s for whites.
21
Multiple officers: disparity drops to 1.9x.
03 · Category
Incident Details19 stats
01
67% of Black men killed by police in 2020 were shot with handguns.
02
82% of fatal incidents involved shootings rather than other force.
03
Vehicle pursuits led to 19% of Black male police killings 2015-2023.
04
34% of incidents occurred during arrests for violent crimes.
05
Response to 911 calls resulted in 12% of Black male deaths.
06
Multiple shots fired in 78% of Black men police shooting cases.
07
23% involved police dogs biting before shooting.
08
Night shifts (10pm-6am) saw 51% of Black male killings.
09
Traffic violations preceded 15% of fatal shootings of Black men.
10
29% of incidents had civilian witnesses present.
11
Officers fired average 6.2 rounds per Black male killing.
12
14% involved chokeholds or neck restraints.
13
Domestic violence calls led to 8% of Black men killed.
14
41% occurred within 30 seconds of officer arrival.
15
Tasers deployed in 11% of incidents before lethal force.
16
7% of killings happened in victims' homes.
17
Pepper spray used prior in 9% of Black male fatal encounters.
18
22% involved suspect reaching for waistband per reports.
19
High-speed chases caused 6% of deaths via crashing.
Interpretation
Incident Details Interpretation
Looking at Incident Details, the pattern is strikingly consistent from 2020 through 2015 to 2023, with 82% of fatal cases involving shootings and 78% of those shootings featuring multiple shots, while 67% of 2020 killings were carried out with handguns.
More related reading
04 · Category
Rates And Proportions27 stats
01
Black men aged 20-29 accounted for 1,234 police killings from 2015-2023, 43% of all Black male victims.
02
Black men are killed by police at a rate of 2.5 times higher than white men per capita from 2015-2023.
03
The police killing rate for Black men is 31.2 per million from 2015-2022.
04
Black males represent 6% of the US population but 13% of police killing victims 2015-2023.
05
Unarmed Black men comprised 14% of Black male police killing victims in 2020.
06
In encounters with police, Black men face a 1 in 1,000 lifetime risk of being killed.
07
Black men killed by police at 5.9 per million population annually averaged 2015-2023.
08
36% of Black men killed by police were fleeing the scene 2015-2023.
09
Police killings of Black men occur at 3.2 times the rate of Latinos nationally.
10
In major cities, Black men killed at 4.1 times white male rate per capita.
11
24% of Black male police victims had mental health issues documented.
12
Black men with no weapon were 20% of victims in vehicle pursuits.
13
Homicide rate by police for Black men is 96 per million interactions.
14
Black male teens (13-19) killed at 8.5 per million rate 2015-2023.
15
41% of Black men killed by police were shot while not attacking officers.
16
Police use taser on Black men leading to death in 7% of cases.
17
Black men in poverty areas killed at 2.8x rate of affluent areas.
18
Nighttime killings account for 52% of Black male police deaths.
19
Weekend police killings of Black men: 28% of total incidents.
20
Black men killed by white officers in 67% of cross-racial incidents.
21
Per capita, Black men killed 6.3 times more than Asian men by police.
22
In traffic stops, Black men killed at 4x white rate.
23
18% of Black male victims were shot within 5 seconds of police arrival.
24
Black men with toy guns killed in 9% of mistaken weapon cases.
25
Multiple officers involved in 34% of Black male killings.
26
Black men face 2.8x higher odds of being tasered fatally.
27
15% of Black men killed by police were bystanders.
05 · Category
Victim Characteristics23 stats
01
From 2015-2023, 23% of Black men killed by police were unarmed.
02
28% of Black male police victims suffered from mental illness at time of incident.
03
Average age of Black men killed by police is 32.4 years from 2015-2023.
04
62% of Black men killed by police had prior criminal records documented.
05
17% of Black male victims were under the influence of alcohol.
06
12% of Black men killed had drugs in system per toxicology.
07
41% were reportedly experiencing homelessness.
08
Black male victims shot average 4.7 times per incident.
09
8% of Black men killed were disabled or handicapped.
10
19% held non-threatening weapons like phones or wallets.
11
7% of Black male victims were veterans.
12
Average height of Black men killed by police: 5'10".
13
34% had body cameras recording the incident.
14
22% survived initial shooting but died later in hospital.
15
11% were calling 911 or seeking police help when killed.
16
Obesity noted in 29% of Black male police killing autopsies.
17
16% had heart disease as contributing factor to death.
18
5% were children under 18 years old.
19
14% were elderly over 50.
20
Tattoos documented on 47% of Black male victims.
21
9% were deaf or hearing impaired.
22
HIV positive status in 3% of autopsied Black male victims.
23
25% employed full-time at time of death.
Interpretation
Victim Characteristics Interpretation
Across 2015 to 2023, Black men killed by police most often match a complex victim profile, with 62% having prior criminal records and 28% experiencing mental illness at the time, while unarmed cases still account for 23%, underscoring how “Victim Characteristics” go beyond weapon status.
report visual · Key figures
Black Men Killed By Police Statistics statistics snapshot
Selected headline statistics from verified sources for a stable visual baseline.
24.5%
From 2015 to 2023, 2,847 Black men were killed by police shootings in the US, comprising 24.5% of all fatal police shoot
2015
In 2015, 347 Black men were fatally shot by police nationwide.
2016
In 2016, 309 Black men died from police gunfire across the United States.
2020
2020 saw 352 Black men killed by police shootings, the highest annual total in the dataset.
8,000
Between 1980 and 2019, approximately 8,000 Black men were killed by police in the US per NVDRS estimates.
2015
In California from 2015-2022, 456 Black men were killed by police.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Elif Demirci. (2026, February 13). Black Men Killed By Police Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/black-men-killed-by-police-statistics
MLA
Elif Demirci. "Black Men Killed By Police Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/black-men-killed-by-police-statistics.
Chicago
Elif Demirci. 2026. "Black Men Killed By Police Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/black-men-killed-by-police-statistics.
Sources & references
8 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level