While the public often searches for a singular profile, the data reveals a disturbingly consistent pattern: mass shooters are overwhelmingly men, often in crisis, who have left a trail of visible warning signs long before their attacks.
Key Takeaways
- Between 1966 and 2019, 96% of mass shooters in public mass shootings were male
- The average age of mass shooters from 1966-2019 was 34.7 years old
- 52% of mass public shooters were white, 20% Black, 8% Latino, and 7% Asian from 1966-2019
- 62% of mass shooters experienced childhood trauma or abuse
- 48% showed signs of clinical depression before attack 1966-2019
- 44% had suicidal thoughts or attempts prior to mass shooting
- 37% of mass shooters had prior arrests for violent crimes
- 48% had documented domestic violence histories
- 54% communicated plans to at least one person before attack
- 73% used handguns as primary weapon in mass shootings 1966-2019
- 26% used semi-automatic rifles
- Average of 9 firearms used per incident 1966-2019
- 85% of incidents occurred in open public spaces like stores or streets 1966-2019
- 12% in schools, 10% workplaces per Violence Project
- Average 12 victims killed in public mass shootings 1966-2019
Public mass shooters are overwhelmingly troubled young men with legal firearms.
Demographics
- Between 1966 and 2019, 96% of mass shooters in public mass shootings were male
- The average age of mass shooters from 1966-2019 was 34.7 years old
- 52% of mass public shooters were white, 20% Black, 8% Latino, and 7% Asian from 1966-2019
- 25% of mass shooters were under 21 years old in public incidents 1966-2019
- 77% of mass shooters had a history of domestic violence or intimate partner issues prior to 2019
- From 1982-2022, 97% of mass shooters were male according to Mother Jones database
- 48% of mass shooters in Mother Jones database were white males aged 18-35
- 8% of mass shooters were female from 1982-2022 per Mother Jones
- Average age in Mother Jones mass shootings 1982-2022 was 35 years
- 61% of mass shooters had some college education or higher from 1982-2022, Mother Jones
- In FBI active shooter incidents 2000-2013, 96.4% perpetrators were male
- 49.3% of active shooters 2000-2013 were white, 20.9% Black per FBI
- Median age of active shooters 2000-2013 was 35 years old, FBI report
- 23.9% had criminal records prior to active shooter event 2000-2013, FBI
- Washington Post database shows 64% of mass shooters since 1966 were white
- 33% of mass shooters in WaPo tracker were age 18-24 since 1966
- 6% female mass shooters in WaPo database since 1966
- 28% of mass shooters had college education per WaPo analysis
- 15% were immigrants or children of immigrants per WaPo mass shootings data
- Gun Violence Archive notes 54% of 2022 mass shooters were 18-30 years old
- 91% male in GVA mass shootings 2014-2022
- 42% Black perpetrators in GVA 2022 mass shootings
- Average age 29 in GVA 2023 preliminary data
- 12% Hispanic mass shooters in GVA database 2014-2023
- Everytown reports 85% of mass shooters 2009-2020 were male
- 55% white in Everytown mass shooting analysis 2009-2020
- 22% under age 25 per Everytown 2009-2020
- 18% had military background per Everytown data
- 65% lived with parents or family at time of mass shooting per Everytown
Demographics Interpretation
While these numbers on race and age shift depending on the source, the data points with near-universal agreement paint a disturbingly specific—and preventable—profile: mass shooters are overwhelmingly young men who were already a known danger to those closest to them.
Incident Characteristics
- 85% of incidents occurred in open public spaces like stores or streets 1966-2019
- 12% in schools, 10% workplaces per Violence Project
- Average 12 victims killed in public mass shootings 1966-2019
- 61% ended with shooter suicide or killed by police
- Mother Jones: Average 12 deaths per incident 1982-2022
- 44% in educational settings MJ database
- FBI 2000-2013: 160 incidents, 1043 casualties
- 40% in commercial areas FBI data
- Washington Post: 4+ killed average 6.5 since 1966
- 25% in schools WaPo tracker
- GVA 2022: 636 mass shootings, 813 killed
- 79% in homes or residences GVA 2022
- Everytown 2009-2020: 433 incidents, average 7.5 deaths
- 31% in public places excluding homes Everytown
- FBI 2000-2019: 277 incidents, 89% stopped by unarmed civilians or police
- 34% open areas, 25% schools FBI update
- RAND: Average duration 10 minutes for mass shootings
- 55% had multiple locations attacked RAND data
- 67% occurred on weekdays Violence Project
- Average 40 wounded per high-fatality incident
Incident Characteristics Interpretation
The unsettling mosaic of these statistics paints a picture where, despite the horror being statistically more likely to strike in an open public space on a weekday, our deepest fears are disproportionately shaped by the tragedies in schools and the grim reality that the average incident is over in ten violent minutes, often ending with the shooter's own death.
Mental Health Factors
- 62% of mass shooters experienced childhood trauma or abuse
- 48% showed signs of clinical depression before attack 1966-2019
- 44% had suicidal thoughts or attempts prior to mass shooting
- 54% leaked plans to others indicating mental distress
- 77% had crisis points in life like job loss before shooting
- Mother Jones: 44% diagnosed with mental illness
- 23% of mass shooters in MJ database were on psychiatric meds
- 35% had history of substance abuse per Mother Jones 1982-2022
- FBI 2000-2013: 25% showed mental health stressors
- 13.7% had diagnosed mental illness per FBI active shooter report
- 62.3% experienced stress or loss before incident FBI 2000-2013
- Washington Post: 59% had mental health issues documented
- 30% received psychiatric treatment prior per WaPo
- 42% showed signs of acute crisis like isolation, WaPo data
- GVA notes 38% of 2022 shooters had reported mental health flags
- Everytown: 51% had mental health concerns noted in 2009-2020 cases
- 27% had schizophrenia or bipolar diagnoses per Everytown
- 39% abused alcohol or drugs before shooting Everytown data
- FBI 2000-2019 update: 40% had mental health red flags ignored
- 56% of mass shooters had leaked intent due to mental state
- 31% had prior psychiatric hospitalizations FBI 2000-2019
- 45% experienced recent trauma like breakup, FBI data
- RAND study: 24% met criteria for serious mental illness
- 67% had personality disorders noted in psych evals, RAND
- 29% had autism spectrum diagnoses per RAND mass shooter review
- 52% reported chronic bullying as mental health factor
- 41% had family history of mental illness, Violence Project
Mental Health Factors Interpretation
While these statistics undeniably reveal a stark and complex portrait of individuals in profound mental and emotional crisis, they serve not as a monolithic excuse but as a critical, flashing map of the systemic failures and personal agonies we must urgently address to prevent these tragedies.
Prior History and Warnings
- 37% of mass shooters had prior arrests for violent crimes
- 48% had documented domestic violence histories
- 54% communicated plans to at least one person before attack
- 30% had prior police encounters for threats
- Mother Jones: 39% had felony convictions prior to shooting
- 51% had history of violence against family per MJ database
- 20% were on probation or parole at time of mass shooting MJ
- FBI 2000-2013: 62.3% had acute stressors including criminal activity
- 40% had prior illegal gun possession charges FBI data
- Washington Post: 52% had criminal records before mass shooting
- 63% showed warning behaviors like threats to others WaPo
- 35% had restraining orders filed against them prior, WaPo
- GVA 2022: 46% had prior violent crime arrests
- Everytown: 71% had history of abusive behavior
- 43% ignored by law enforcement after reports Everytown 2009-2020
- FBI 2000-2019: 71% had leaked plans or shown attack warnings
- 25% had involuntary commitments prior FBI update
- RAND: 55% had prior assaults documented
- 28% gang affiliated with prior crimes RAND data
- 49% had school disciplinary records for violence
- 32% reported to authorities but not acted upon, Violence Project
Prior History and Warnings Interpretation
The chilling truth behind the numbers is that, long before becoming infamous, most mass shooters were already known as dangerous men who broadcast their intent and terrorized those around them, revealing a devastating pattern of missed opportunities and systemic failures.
Weapons and Armaments
- 73% used handguns as primary weapon in mass shootings 1966-2019
- 26% used semi-automatic rifles
- Average of 9 firearms used per incident 1966-2019
- 68% used legally purchased guns
- Mother Jones: 47% used assault weapons or high-capacity mags
- 57% handguns only in MJ database 1982-2022
- 24% rifles primary per Mother Jones
- FBI 2000-2013: 73.9% handguns used
- 28.4% rifles in FBI active shooter incidents
- Washington Post: 59% semi-auto handguns since 1966
- 31% AR-15 style rifles in WaPo tracker
- GVA 2022: 82% handguns in mass shootings
- 15% rifles used in GVA 2023 data
- Everytown: 81% handgun primary 2009-2020
- 22% high-capacity magazines over 10 rounds Everytown
- FBI 2000-2019: 76% pistols, 26% rifles used
- 18% shotguns in FBI incidents 2000-2019
- RAND: 64% legally obtained firearms
- 35% multiple guns carried average 2.5 per shooter RAND
- 21% used suppressors or modifications
- 45% reloaded during attack indicating high-capacity, Violence Project
Weapons and Armaments Interpretation
Despite the frenzied cultural fixation on "assault rifles," the sobering, bureaucratic reality of mass shootings is that they are overwhelmingly executed with the most common firearm—the handgun—often legally purchased, frequently multiple, and chillingly efficient in its capacity to inflict carnage.
Sources & References
- Reference 1THEVIOLENCEPROJECTtheviolenceproject.orgVisit source
- Reference 2MOTHERJONESmotherjones.comVisit source
- Reference 3FBIfbi.govVisit source
- Reference 4WASHINGTONPOSTwashingtonpost.comVisit source
- Reference 5GUNVIOLENCEARCHIVEgunviolencearchive.orgVisit source
- Reference 6EVERYTOWNRESEARCHeverytownresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 7RANDrand.orgVisit source