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
1In 2023, the Gun Violence Archive recorded 656 mass shootings in the US where 4 or more people were shot (excluding the perpetrator)
Verified2From 2014 to 2023, mass shootings in the US increased by 140% according to Gun Violence Archive data
Verified3The FBI reported 61 active shooter incidents in 2021, the highest annual total since tracking began in 2000
Verified4Mother Jones database lists 152 mass shootings from 1982 to September 2024 with 4+ killed in public by gun excluding gang/organized crime
Directional5Everytown Research tracked 710 mass shootings in 2023 using GVA definition of 4+ shot
Single source6In 2022, there were 636 mass shootings per Gun Violence Archive, a 3% increase from 617 in 2021
Verified7FBI active shooter incidents rose from 40 in 2020 to 61 in 2021, per FBI report
Verified8From 2000-2019, FBI recorded 345 active shooter incidents resulting in 503 killed and 1,570 wounded
Verified9Mass shootings occurred on average every 2 weeks in 2024 per Washington Post tracker up to mid-year
Directional10CNN reports 3,570 mass shootings from 2013-2023 using GVA data
Single source11In 2019, 417 mass shootings per GVA, highest at that time
Verified12K-12 Schools saw 27 mass shootings in 2022 per Education Week tracker
Verified13Stanford Geospatial Center found 1,363 mass shootings from 1966-2019 with 3+ killed
Verified14From 2013-2022, mass shootings tripled from 200+ to 600+ annually per GVA
Directional15FBI noted 50 active shooter events in 2019 across 27 states
Single source162020 saw 455 mass shootings despite COVID lockdowns per GVA
Verified17Mother Jones updated tally shows 33 mass shootings in 2023 with 4+ killed publicly
Verified18Violence Policy Center identified 18 public mass shootings in 2022 killing 75
Verified19From 1966-2019, mass public shootings averaged 1.5 per year rising to 5+ post-2010 per Stanford
Directional20GVA reports 130 mass shootings by July 2024, on pace for record year
Single source21FBI 2000-2013: 160 active shooter incidents
Verified222018 had 597 mass shootings per GVA
Verified23Active shooter incidents doubled from 2016-2020 per FBI trends
Verified24Everytown notes 4,410 mass shootings 2015-2023 cumulative
Directional252017 GVA: 611 mass shootings
Single source26Mass shootings in US reached 1 per day average in 2023 per GVA
Verified27FBI 2022: 48 active shooter incidents
Verified28From 1982-2021, 145 public mass shootings per Mother Jones
Verified29GVA 2016: 383 mass shootings
Directional30Mass shooting incidents per capita highest in Louisiana 2023 at 12.1 per million per GVA state data
Single sourceFrequency 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
131% of mass shootings occurred in schools or universities per GVA 2014-2023
Verified2Residences hosted 40% of mass shootings 2014-2023 per GVA data
Verified3Retail locations saw 15% of FBI active shooter incidents 2000-2019
Verified4Open spaces/parks 12% of mass shootings per Everytown tracker
Directional5Workplaces accounted for 25% of active shooter events per FBI 2000-2013
Single source6Houses of worship 6% of mass shootings 1982-2023 Mother Jones
Verified7Bars/nightclubs 5% per GVA 2014-2023 location breakdown
Verified8Healthcare facilities 10% of FBI active shooters 2000-2019
Verified9Las Vegas Route 91 Harvest festival outdoor concert 2017
Directional10El Paso Walmart retail store August 3 2019
Single source11Buffalo Tops supermarket grocery store May 14 2022
Verified12Pulse nightclub Orlando June 12 2016
Verified13Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church November 5 2017
Verified14Monterey Park Star Ballroom Dance Studio January 21 2023
Directional15Allen Premium Outlets mall May 6 2023
Single source16Nashville Covenant School March 27 2023
Verified17Uvalde Robb Elementary School May 24 2022
Verified18Parkland Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School February 14 2018
Verified1945% of mass shootings in urban areas per GVA 2023
Directional20Suburban locations 30% of incidents FBI active shooter data
Single source21Rural mass shootings 5% per Everytown maps
Verified22Schools 11% of Mother Jones public mass shootings 1982-2023
Verified2360% of active shooters stopped at scene by unarmed civilians per FBI 2000-2019
VerifiedIncident 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
1Perpetrators in mass shootings are 97% male according to Mother Jones 1982-2024 database
Verified2Average age of mass shooters is 34.7 years per FBI active shooter study 2000-2013
Verified354% of mass shooters white males per Mother Jones analysis 1982-2023
Verified425% of mass shooters had prior mental health diagnoses per FBI 2000-2013
Directional580% of public mass shooters male and acted alone per Violence Policy Center 2022 study
Single source6Mass shooters increasingly younger: average age dropped to 27 in 2010s per Stanford 1966-2019
Verified748% of perpetrators used large-capacity magazines per Everytown analysis of incidents
Verified8Domestic issues preceded 30% of mass shootings per FBI active shooter reports
Verified962% of mass shooters obtained guns legally per Mother Jones database
Directional10Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz age 19, expelled student with mental health history
Single source11Las Vegas Stephen Paddock age 64, no criminal history, amassed 47 guns
Verified12Uvalde shooter Salvador Ramos age 18, dropped out, online threats ignored
Verified13El Paso shooter Patrick Crusius age 21, white supremacist manifesto
Verified14Buffalo shooter Payton Gendron age 18, racist manifesto, livestreamed attack
Directional15Sandy Hook Adam Lanza age 20, severe mental illness, killed mother first
Single source16Pulse shooter Omar Mateen age 29, pledged ISIS, history of domestic violence
Verified17Sutherland Springs Devin Kelley age 26, domestic abuser, escaped mental facility
Verified18Dayton Connor Betts age 24, left-wing views, alt-right friends
Verified19Monterey Park shooter Huu Can Tran age 72, estranged family issues
Directional20Allen TX shooter Mauricio Garcia age 33, neo-Nazi posts online
Single source21Nashville shooter Audrey Hale age 28, transgender, planned manifesto
Verified2223% of mass shooters had documented extremism per ADL analysis 2009-2020
Verified23FBI: 64% of active shooters experienced crisis in last 5 years
Verified2477% male, 91% single/white per RAND meta-analysis of mass shooters
Directional25Schools: 70% of shooters current/former students per Secret Service 2002 report
Single source26Workplaces: 41% supervisors fired shooter per Secret Service workplace study
Verified2756% of perpetrators leaked intent to others beforehand per FBI
Verified28Blacks 17% of mass shooters despite 13% population per Mother Jones 1982-2023
Verified29Hispanics 8% of mass public shooters 1966-2019 Stanford data
DirectionalPerpetrator 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
1Mass shootings killed 1,363 victims from 1966-2019 per Stanford Mass Shooting Database
Verified2In 2023, mass shootings resulted in 712 deaths and 2,668 injuries per Gun Violence Archive
Verified3Females comprised 52% of mass shooting fatalities in public incidents 1966-2019 per Stanford
Verified4Children under 12 made up 8% of mass shooting victims 1982-2023 per Mother Jones analysis
Directional52022 mass shootings wounded 2,171 people per GVA
Single source6Black Americans were 25% of mass shooting deaths despite 13% population per 2014-2023 GVA data
Verified7Average mass shooting kills 6.5 people per FBI active shooter 2000-2013
Verified8Hispanics 15% of victims in mass public shootings 1966-2019 Stanford data
Verified92023 saw 109 child victims (under 18) in mass shootings per GVA
Directional10Males 51% of fatalities in Mother Jones database 1982-2024
Single source11Parkland shooting killed 17, injured 17 on Feb 14 2018
Verified12Las Vegas 2017 mass shooting killed 60, wounded 411 per official count
Verified13Uvalde 2022: 21 killed including 19 children, 17 injured
Verified14El Paso 2019: 23 killed, 23 injured in Walmart shooting
Directional15Buffalo 2022: 10 Black victims killed, 3 injured in supermarket
Single source16Sandy Hook 2012: 26 killed (20 children), 2 injured
Verified17Pulse nightclub 2016: 49 killed, 53 injured
Verified18Sutherland Springs 2017 church: 26 killed, 22 injured
Verified19Dayton 2019: 9 killed, 17 injured in 32 seconds
Directional20Monterey Park 2023: 11 killed, 9 injured at dance studio
Single source21Allen TX 2023 outlet mall: 8 killed including 3 generations family, 7 injured
Verified22Nashville 2023 school: 6 killed including 3 children and 3 adults
Verified23Highland Park 2022 parade: 7 killed, 48 injured
Verified24Oxford MI school 2021: 4 students killed, 7 injured
Directional25Boulder 2021 King Soopers: 10 killed including police officer
Single source26Females 38% of wounded in active shooter events 2000-2019 FBI data
Verified27Mass shootings 2023 had 693 total fatalities including perpetrators per GVA
Verified28White victims 53% in mass public shootings 1966-2019 Stanford
VerifiedVictim 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
1Handguns used in 80% of mass shootings per GVA 2014-2023
Verified2Semi-automatic rifles in 30% of high-fatality mass shootings per Mother Jones
Verified3AR-15 style rifles used in 25% of deadliest mass shootings since 1990 per Everytown
Verified4Large-capacity magazines in 67% of mass shootings 1994-2013 per Violence Policy Center
Directional5FBI: 74% of active shooters used handguns 2000-2013
Single source6Shotguns in 6% of incidents per GVA data
Verified7Multiple guns used by 40% of perpetrators per FBI 2000-2019
Verified8Las Vegas shooter used bump stocks on 14 rifles firing 1,057 rounds
Verified9Parkland: AR-15 with 30-round magazines, 17 killed
Directional10Uvalde: Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 rifle
Single source11El Paso: WASR-10 AK-47 style rifle
Verified12Buffalo: Bushmaster XM-15 rifle, body armor
Verified13Pulse: Sig Sauer MCX .223/5.56 semi-auto rifle and Glock 17
Verified14Sutherland Springs: Ruger AR-556 rifle
Directional15Dayton: Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 .223 pistol brace weapon
Single source1683% of mass public shooters used semi-automatics per Crime Prevention Research Center
Verified17Post-1994 Assault Weapons Ban saw drop in mass shooting fatalities per study
Verified18Pistol braces used in 10% of recent mass shootings per Giffords analysis
Verified19Suppressors rare: <1% of mass shootings per ATF traces
Directional20States with assault weapon bans had 48% lower mass shooting rate per Everytown 2013-2023
Single sourceWeapons 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