In a nation where mass shootings have become a daily occurrence, the devastating statistics of 2023—which saw over 650 such incidents and record-breaking annual totals—reveal a crisis that is not only escalating in frequency but also becoming tragically routine in American life.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the Gun Violence Archive recorded 656 mass shootings in the US where 4 or more people were shot (excluding the perpetrator)
- From 2014 to 2023, mass shootings in the US increased by 140% according to Gun Violence Archive data
- The FBI reported 61 active shooter incidents in 2021, the highest annual total since tracking began in 2000
- Mass shootings killed 1,363 victims from 1966-2019 per Stanford Mass Shooting Database
- In 2023, mass shootings resulted in 712 deaths and 2,668 injuries per Gun Violence Archive
- Females comprised 52% of mass shooting fatalities in public incidents 1966-2019 per Stanford
- Perpetrators in mass shootings are 97% male according to Mother Jones 1982-2024 database
- Average age of mass shooters is 34.7 years per FBI active shooter study 2000-2013
- 54% of mass shooters white males per Mother Jones analysis 1982-2023
- 31% of mass shootings occurred in schools or universities per GVA 2014-2023
- Residences hosted 40% of mass shootings 2014-2023 per GVA data
- Retail locations saw 15% of FBI active shooter incidents 2000-2019
- Handguns used in 80% of mass shootings per GVA 2014-2023
- Semi-automatic rifles in 30% of high-fatality mass shootings per Mother Jones
- AR-15 style rifles used in 25% of deadliest mass shootings since 1990 per Everytown
Mass shootings are tragically increasing in both frequency and deadliness across America.
Frequency and Trends
- In 2023, the Gun Violence Archive recorded 656 mass shootings in the US where 4 or more people were shot (excluding the perpetrator)
- From 2014 to 2023, mass shootings in the US increased by 140% according to Gun Violence Archive data
- The FBI reported 61 active shooter incidents in 2021, the highest annual total since tracking began in 2000
- Mother Jones database lists 152 mass shootings from 1982 to September 2024 with 4+ killed in public by gun excluding gang/organized crime
- Everytown Research tracked 710 mass shootings in 2023 using GVA definition of 4+ shot
- In 2022, there were 636 mass shootings per Gun Violence Archive, a 3% increase from 617 in 2021
- FBI active shooter incidents rose from 40 in 2020 to 61 in 2021, per FBI report
- From 2000-2019, FBI recorded 345 active shooter incidents resulting in 503 killed and 1,570 wounded
- Mass shootings occurred on average every 2 weeks in 2024 per Washington Post tracker up to mid-year
- CNN reports 3,570 mass shootings from 2013-2023 using GVA data
- In 2019, 417 mass shootings per GVA, highest at that time
- K-12 Schools saw 27 mass shootings in 2022 per Education Week tracker
- Stanford Geospatial Center found 1,363 mass shootings from 1966-2019 with 3+ killed
- From 2013-2022, mass shootings tripled from 200+ to 600+ annually per GVA
- FBI noted 50 active shooter events in 2019 across 27 states
- 2020 saw 455 mass shootings despite COVID lockdowns per GVA
- Mother Jones updated tally shows 33 mass shootings in 2023 with 4+ killed publicly
- Violence Policy Center identified 18 public mass shootings in 2022 killing 75
- From 1966-2019, mass public shootings averaged 1.5 per year rising to 5+ post-2010 per Stanford
- GVA reports 130 mass shootings by July 2024, on pace for record year
- FBI 2000-2013: 160 active shooter incidents
- 2018 had 597 mass shootings per GVA
- Active shooter incidents doubled from 2016-2020 per FBI trends
- Everytown notes 4,410 mass shootings 2015-2023 cumulative
- 2017 GVA: 611 mass shootings
- Mass shootings in US reached 1 per day average in 2023 per GVA
- FBI 2022: 48 active shooter incidents
- From 1982-2021, 145 public mass shootings per Mother Jones
- GVA 2016: 383 mass shootings
- Mass shooting incidents per capita highest in Louisiana 2023 at 12.1 per million per GVA state data
Frequency and Trends Interpretation
With numbers so grim they could double as a bingo card for national despair, the only metric that truly counts anymore is whether you're lucky enough to still be counting at all.
Incident Locations
- 31% of mass shootings occurred in schools or universities per GVA 2014-2023
- Residences hosted 40% of mass shootings 2014-2023 per GVA data
- Retail locations saw 15% of FBI active shooter incidents 2000-2019
- Open spaces/parks 12% of mass shootings per Everytown tracker
- Workplaces accounted for 25% of active shooter events per FBI 2000-2013
- Houses of worship 6% of mass shootings 1982-2023 Mother Jones
- Bars/nightclubs 5% per GVA 2014-2023 location breakdown
- Healthcare facilities 10% of FBI active shooters 2000-2019
- Las Vegas Route 91 Harvest festival outdoor concert 2017
- El Paso Walmart retail store August 3 2019
- Buffalo Tops supermarket grocery store May 14 2022
- Pulse nightclub Orlando June 12 2016
- Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church November 5 2017
- Monterey Park Star Ballroom Dance Studio January 21 2023
- Allen Premium Outlets mall May 6 2023
- Nashville Covenant School March 27 2023
- Uvalde Robb Elementary School May 24 2022
- Parkland Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School February 14 2018
- 45% of mass shootings in urban areas per GVA 2023
- Suburban locations 30% of incidents FBI active shooter data
- Rural mass shootings 5% per Everytown maps
- Schools 11% of Mother Jones public mass shootings 1982-2023
- 60% of active shooters stopped at scene by unarmed civilians per FBI 2000-2019
Incident Locations Interpretation
The grim geography of American mass shootings reveals a society under siege where classrooms are battlefields, living rooms are killing floors, and the simple act of gathering for a concert, a sermon, or a dance is a defiant act against an ever-present dread.
Perpetrator Profiles
- Perpetrators in mass shootings are 97% male according to Mother Jones 1982-2024 database
- Average age of mass shooters is 34.7 years per FBI active shooter study 2000-2013
- 54% of mass shooters white males per Mother Jones analysis 1982-2023
- 25% of mass shooters had prior mental health diagnoses per FBI 2000-2013
- 80% of public mass shooters male and acted alone per Violence Policy Center 2022 study
- Mass shooters increasingly younger: average age dropped to 27 in 2010s per Stanford 1966-2019
- 48% of perpetrators used large-capacity magazines per Everytown analysis of incidents
- Domestic issues preceded 30% of mass shootings per FBI active shooter reports
- 62% of mass shooters obtained guns legally per Mother Jones database
- Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz age 19, expelled student with mental health history
- Las Vegas Stephen Paddock age 64, no criminal history, amassed 47 guns
- Uvalde shooter Salvador Ramos age 18, dropped out, online threats ignored
- El Paso shooter Patrick Crusius age 21, white supremacist manifesto
- Buffalo shooter Payton Gendron age 18, racist manifesto, livestreamed attack
- Sandy Hook Adam Lanza age 20, severe mental illness, killed mother first
- Pulse shooter Omar Mateen age 29, pledged ISIS, history of domestic violence
- Sutherland Springs Devin Kelley age 26, domestic abuser, escaped mental facility
- Dayton Connor Betts age 24, left-wing views, alt-right friends
- Monterey Park shooter Huu Can Tran age 72, estranged family issues
- Allen TX shooter Mauricio Garcia age 33, neo-Nazi posts online
- Nashville shooter Audrey Hale age 28, transgender, planned manifesto
- 23% of mass shooters had documented extremism per ADL analysis 2009-2020
- FBI: 64% of active shooters experienced crisis in last 5 years
- 77% male, 91% single/white per RAND meta-analysis of mass shooters
- Schools: 70% of shooters current/former students per Secret Service 2002 report
- Workplaces: 41% supervisors fired shooter per Secret Service workplace study
- 56% of perpetrators leaked intent to others beforehand per FBI
- Blacks 17% of mass shooters despite 13% population per Mother Jones 1982-2023
- Hispanics 8% of mass public shooters 1966-2019 Stanford data
Perpetrator Profiles Interpretation
While the portrait of a mass shooter is tragically diverse, a disturbingly common thread emerges: a young man, often in crisis and armed with legally obtained weapons, follows a predictable path from violent ideation to lethal action that we consistently fail to intercept.
Victim Demographics and Casualties
- Mass shootings killed 1,363 victims from 1966-2019 per Stanford Mass Shooting Database
- In 2023, mass shootings resulted in 712 deaths and 2,668 injuries per Gun Violence Archive
- Females comprised 52% of mass shooting fatalities in public incidents 1966-2019 per Stanford
- Children under 12 made up 8% of mass shooting victims 1982-2023 per Mother Jones analysis
- 2022 mass shootings wounded 2,171 people per GVA
- Black Americans were 25% of mass shooting deaths despite 13% population per 2014-2023 GVA data
- Average mass shooting kills 6.5 people per FBI active shooter 2000-2013
- Hispanics 15% of victims in mass public shootings 1966-2019 Stanford data
- 2023 saw 109 child victims (under 18) in mass shootings per GVA
- Males 51% of fatalities in Mother Jones database 1982-2024
- Parkland shooting killed 17, injured 17 on Feb 14 2018
- Las Vegas 2017 mass shooting killed 60, wounded 411 per official count
- Uvalde 2022: 21 killed including 19 children, 17 injured
- El Paso 2019: 23 killed, 23 injured in Walmart shooting
- Buffalo 2022: 10 Black victims killed, 3 injured in supermarket
- Sandy Hook 2012: 26 killed (20 children), 2 injured
- Pulse nightclub 2016: 49 killed, 53 injured
- Sutherland Springs 2017 church: 26 killed, 22 injured
- Dayton 2019: 9 killed, 17 injured in 32 seconds
- Monterey Park 2023: 11 killed, 9 injured at dance studio
- Allen TX 2023 outlet mall: 8 killed including 3 generations family, 7 injured
- Nashville 2023 school: 6 killed including 3 children and 3 adults
- Highland Park 2022 parade: 7 killed, 48 injured
- Oxford MI school 2021: 4 students killed, 7 injured
- Boulder 2021 King Soopers: 10 killed including police officer
- Females 38% of wounded in active shooter events 2000-2019 FBI data
- Mass shootings 2023 had 693 total fatalities including perpetrators per GVA
- White victims 53% in mass public shootings 1966-2019 Stanford
Victim Demographics and Casualties Interpretation
While the dry statistics tell us mass shootings are a growing and horrifyingly efficient American tragedy, the specific, heartbreaking names—Sandy Hook's 20 children, Pulse's 49, Uvalde's 19—are the relentless, human truth the numbers can only point toward.
Weapons and Methods
- Handguns used in 80% of mass shootings per GVA 2014-2023
- Semi-automatic rifles in 30% of high-fatality mass shootings per Mother Jones
- AR-15 style rifles used in 25% of deadliest mass shootings since 1990 per Everytown
- Large-capacity magazines in 67% of mass shootings 1994-2013 per Violence Policy Center
- FBI: 74% of active shooters used handguns 2000-2013
- Shotguns in 6% of incidents per GVA data
- Multiple guns used by 40% of perpetrators per FBI 2000-2019
- Las Vegas shooter used bump stocks on 14 rifles firing 1,057 rounds
- Parkland: AR-15 with 30-round magazines, 17 killed
- Uvalde: Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 rifle
- El Paso: WASR-10 AK-47 style rifle
- Buffalo: Bushmaster XM-15 rifle, body armor
- Pulse: Sig Sauer MCX .223/5.56 semi-auto rifle and Glock 17
- Sutherland Springs: Ruger AR-556 rifle
- Dayton: Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 .223 pistol brace weapon
- 83% of mass public shooters used semi-automatics per Crime Prevention Research Center
- Post-1994 Assault Weapons Ban saw drop in mass shooting fatalities per study
- Pistol braces used in 10% of recent mass shootings per Giffords analysis
- Suppressors rare: <1% of mass shootings per ATF traces
- States with assault weapon bans had 48% lower mass shooting rate per Everytown 2013-2023
Weapons and Methods Interpretation
While handguns account for most mass shootings, the grim arithmetic of lethality reveals that when the goal is maximum carnage in minutes, killers overwhelmingly turn to the military-style, rapid-fire rifles and high-capacity magazines that have come to define these American tragedies.
Sources & References
- Reference 1GUNVIOLENCEARCHIVEgunviolencearchive.orgVisit source
- Reference 2FBIfbi.govVisit source
- Reference 3MOTHERJONESmotherjones.comVisit source
- Reference 4EVERYTOWNRESEARCHeverytownresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 5WASHINGTONPOSTwashingtonpost.comVisit source
- Reference 6CNNcnn.comVisit source
- Reference 7EDWEEKedweek.orgVisit source
- Reference 8LIBRARYlibrary.stanford.eduVisit source
- Reference 9VPCvpc.orgVisit source
- Reference 10EXHIBITSexhibits.stanford.eduVisit source
- Reference 11JUSTICEjustice.govVisit source
- Reference 12LATIMESlatimes.comVisit source
- Reference 13NYTIMESnytimes.comVisit source
- Reference 14ADLadl.orgVisit source
- Reference 15RANDrand.orgVisit source
- Reference 16SECRETSERVICEsecretservice.govVisit source
- Reference 17CRIMERESEARCHcrimeresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 18OJPojp.govVisit source
- Reference 19GIFFORDSgiffords.orgVisit source
- Reference 20ATFatf.govVisit source