While the national debate on policing rages, the numbers tell a sobering story: over 10,400 lives have been lost to police shootings in the past decade, a crisis marked by record-breaking annual totals and profound racial disparities that demand our attention.
Key Takeaways
- From 2015 to 2022, police shot at 1,234 people in Ohio, resulting in 455 fatalities
- In 2023, 1,164 people were killed by police gunfire in the US, marking the highest annual total since tracking began in 2015
- Between 1980 and 2019, an estimated 30,800 people died from fatal police shootings in the US
- Black victims made up 27% of police shooting deaths from 2015-2022 despite 13.6% population share
- In 2023, 30% of those fatally shot by police were Hispanic/Latino
- From 2015-2023, 25% of fatal shooting victims were Black males aged 20-29
- Officers were 85% white in fatal shooting incidents from 2015-2023
- 12% of shooting officers in 2022 were female
- Average age of officers involved in fatal shootings was 37 in 2021 data
- California had 22% of national fatal police shootings 2015-2023
- Texas averaged 100 fatal shootings per year 2020-2023
- Rural areas saw 25% of fatal shootings despite 19% population, 2022
- Fatal shootings increased 15% from 2019 to 2022 nationally
- Post-George Floyd, 2020 saw 25% spike in shootings vs 2019, totaling 1,021
- Weekend fatal shootings: 30% of weekly total, peaking Saturdays 2015-2023
National deadly police shootings are rising sharply with profound racial disparities.
Demographics of Victims
1Black victims made up 27% of police shooting deaths from 2015-2022 despite 13.6% population share
Verified2In 2023, 30% of those fatally shot by police were Hispanic/Latino
Verified3From 2015-2023, 25% of fatal shooting victims were Black males aged 20-29
Verified4White victims comprised 46% of police shooting deaths in 2022
Directional5Average age of fatal police shooting victims in 2021 was 38 years
Single source6Black Americans were 2.5 times more likely to be killed by police than whites per capita from 2015-2020
Verified714% of fatal shooting victims in 2023 were women
Verified8Native Americans were killed at 3.5 times the rate of whites in police shootings 2015-2022
Verified960% of Black victims fatally shot were under 40 years old in 2022 data
Directional10Hispanic victims averaged 35 years old in fatal police shootings 2021
Single source11From 2015-2023, 13% of victims were unarmed Black individuals
Verified12White males aged 30-49 were 22% of fatal victims in 2023
Verified13Black females represented 5% of fatal police shooting victims 2015-2022
Verified14In 2020, 55% of Hispanic fatal victims were armed with firearms
Directional15Youth under 18 made up 1.2% of fatal shooting victims from 2015-2021, disproportionately Black
Single source162022 data: 28% of Asian/Pacific Islander victims in police shootings were fatal
Verified17Elderly over 60 were 4% of victims, mostly white males in 2023
Verified18Mental illness noted in 25% of Black victims fatally shot 2015-2023
Verified19From 2019-2022, 32% of Native Hawaiian victims killed by police shootings
Directional20Black males had a fatal shooting rate of 6.4 per million in 2021
Single source21Women victims in 2022: 9% Black, 42% white
Verified22Unarmed Black victims: 14% of Black total fatalities 2015-2022
Verified23Hispanic youth under 25: 18% of their demographic's fatal shootings in 2023
Verified2451% of white victims in 2021 were from rural areas
Directional2595% of all fatal victims were male, with Black males at highest per capita risk
Single sourceDemographics of Victims Interpretation
The numbers tell a cold and disproportionate story: while white victims make up nearly half of the raw totals, Black, Hispanic, and Native American communities bear a brutally outsized risk per capita, with young Black men facing the highest mortal danger of all from police gunfire.
Fatalities
1From 2015 to 2022, police shot at 1,234 people in Ohio, resulting in 455 fatalities
Verified2In 2023, 1,164 people were killed by police gunfire in the US, marking the highest annual total since tracking began in 2015
Verified3Between 1980 and 2019, an estimated 30,800 people died from fatal police shootings in the US
Verified4In 2022, 1,096 civilians were fatally shot by police, with 93% armed with a firearm or other weapon at the time
Directional5California recorded 191 fatal police shootings in 2022, the highest of any state
Single source6From May 2020 to April 2021, amid protests, fatal police shootings increased by 12% compared to pre-2020 averages, totaling 1,129 deaths
Verified72021 saw 1,055 fatal police shootings nationwide, with Texas at 104
Verified8Over 10 years (2013-2023), more than 10,400 people died from police shootings, averaging 28 per million residents
Verified9In 2019, 999 fatal police shootings occurred, 41% of victims were fleeing the scene
Directional10Black Americans comprised 24% of those fatally shot by police in 2022 despite being 13% of population
Single source11Males accounted for 95% of fatal police shooting victims from 2015-2023
Verified12In 2020, 1,021 fatal shootings by police, highest on record at the time
Verified13Florida had 88 fatal police shootings in 2021, ranking third nationally
Verified1477% of fatal police shooting victims in 2023 were armed with guns
Directional15From 2015-2024, over 9,000 fatal shootings, with 2024 on pace for another record
Single source16Arizona saw 58 fatal police shootings in 2022
Verified17In 2016, 963 fatal police shootings, with body cameras present in 20% of cases
Verified18Georgia recorded 49 fatal shootings by police in 2023
Verified1916% of fatal police shootings from 2015-2022 involved mental health crises
Directional20Pennsylvania had 45 fatal police shootings in 2022
Single source21In 2018, 991 fatal police shootings, down slightly from 2017's 987
Verified22Missouri saw 32 fatal police shootings in 2021
Verified232023 data shows 1,164 killed, with 231 in the last quarter alone
Verified24From 2015-2021, 8,035 fatal shootings, 99% involving on-duty officers
Directional25Illinois had 41 fatal police shootings in 2022
Single source26In 2017, 984 fatal police shootings occurred nationwide
Verified27Nevada recorded 28 fatal shootings by police in 2023
Verified2824% of fatal police shooting victims in 2020 were Hispanic
Verified29North Carolina had 37 fatal police shootings in 2021
Directional302022 total fatal shootings: 1,096, with 25% involving vehicle pursuits
Single sourceFatalities Interpretation
While the country debates reform, the data soberly declares it a record-breaking, decade-long epidemic where the badge's lethal force remains tragically predictable in its scale and disproportionate in its impact.
Geographic Distribution
1California had 22% of national fatal police shootings 2015-2023
Verified2Texas averaged 100 fatal shootings per year 2020-2023
Verified3Rural areas saw 25% of fatal shootings despite 19% population, 2022
Verified4Los Angeles County: 85 fatal police shootings 2015-2022
Directional5South region: 40% of all fatal shootings 2015-2023
Single source6Chicago: 72 fatal shootings by police 2015-2023
Verified7Nevada had highest per capita rate at 6.2 per million 2022
Verified8Midwest: 18% of national total, lowest regional share 2021
Verified9New Mexico: 5.8 fatal shootings per million residents 2023
Directional10Philadelphia: 45 fatal police shootings 2015-2022
Single source11West states: 35% of fatalities, high in AZ, CA, NV 2022
Verified12Baltimore: 32 fatal shootings post-Freddie Gray 2015-2023
Verified13Florida's Miami-Dade: 28 fatal shootings 2020-2023
Verified14Northeast: only 12% of national fatal shootings 2015-2022
Directional15Oklahoma: 4.9 per million rate 2023
Single source16Houston: 55 fatal police shootings 2015-2023
Verified17Urban areas: 70% of incidents, suburbs 20%, rural 10% in 2022
Verified18Colorado: 48 fatal shootings 2021-2023
Verified19Atlanta: 25 fatal shootings by police 2020-2023
Directional20Wyoming lowest total at 2-3 per year, but high per capita
Single source21Detroit: 38 fatal shootings 2015-2022
Verified22Alaska: 7.2 per million rate, highest nationally 2022
Verified23St. Louis: highest per capita city at 13.4 per million 2015-2022
Verified24Oregon: 42 fatal shootings 2020-2023
DirectionalGeographic Distribution Interpretation
Despite California and Texas dominating the headlines, the truly alarming story is written in per capita ink, where the vast, open landscapes of states like Alaska and Nevada, and cities like St. Louis, reveal a lethal density of police violence that population percentages alone cannot erase.
Incident Circumstances
160% of fatal shootings occurred during traffic stops or pursuits 2022
Verified293% of 2023 fatal victims posed "immediate threat" per police
Verified3Unarmed victims: 6% of total fatal shootings 2015-2023
Verified4Domestic violence calls led to 12% of fatal shootings in 2022
Directional525% involved mental health disturbances 2021 data
Single source6Vehicle-related: 20% of incidents, often during chases 2023
Verified736% of victims fleeing on foot at time of shooting 2015-2022
Verified8Armed with firearms: 77% in 2022 fatal cases
Verified9Drug/alcohol suspected in 15% of fatal shootings 2023
Directional108% of victims shot in back, per autopsy reviews 2015-2021
Single source11Robbery responses: 10% of circumstances leading to fatal shots 2022
Verified12No weapon: 10% in non-fatal shootings vs 6% fatal 2023
Verified13Suicide-by-cop: estimated 5-10% of incidents 2015-2023
Verified1445% occurred during warrant service or arrests 2021
Directional15Toy/weapon mistaken: 4% of unarmed cases 2022
Single source1622% involved multiple victims shot in single incident 2015-2022
Verified17Burglary/break-in calls: 7% of fatal circumstances 2023
Verified18Hands up or surrendering: claimed in 2% but disputed
Verified1930% during routine patrols or checks 2022
Directional20Officer assaulted: 28% of incidents pre-shooting 2021
Single source2118% of fatal shootings followed 911 calls for welfare checks 2023
VerifiedIncident Circumstances Interpretation
While the data paints a portrait of officers predominantly confronting armed and immediate threats, the persistent, smaller percentages—involving the unarmed, the mentally distressed, and those shot from behind—etch the stubborn, human-shaped shadows around that portrait where reform must tirelessly focus.
Officer-Involved Factors
1Officers were 85% white in fatal shooting incidents from 2015-2023
Verified212% of shooting officers in 2022 were female
Verified3Average age of officers involved in fatal shootings was 37 in 2021 data
Verified4Black officers involved in 8% of fatal shootings despite 7% of force, 2015-2022
Directional570% of fatal shootings involved multiple officers, average 2.1 per incident in 2023
Single source6Hispanic officers accounted for 15% of shooting officers in 2022
Verified7Body-worn cameras used by 60% of agencies in fatal shooting cases 2021
Verified8Officers injured in 5% of fatal shooting incidents from 2015-2023
Verified992% of shooting officers were on-duty in 2023 data
Directional10White officers shot Black suspects at 3 times the rate of Black officers, 2015-2020
Single source11Average shots fired per fatal incident: 4.2 in 2022
Verified1222% of officers in shootings had prior complaints, per 2021 study
Verified13Female officers involved in 11% of incidents where victim survived, vs 8% fatal
Verified1475% of fatal shootings by officers with 5+ years experience, 2023
Directional15Black officers more likely to use non-lethal force in 18% higher rate, 2015-2022
Single source1640% of shootings involved patrol officers under 30
Verified17Officers hit by suspect fire in 3% of fatal shootings 2021
Verified1865% of involved officers were plainclothes or tactical in urban shootings 2022
Verified19Hispanic officers fired fewer shots on average (3.1) vs white (4.5) in 2023
Directional205% of shooting officers were charged criminally post-2015
Single source21Multi-racial officers in 2% of incidents, mostly West Coast 2021-2023
Verified22Senior officers (15+ years) in 35% of fatal cases, lower discipline rates
Verified2388% of officers retained jobs post-shooting 2015-2022
VerifiedOfficer-Involved Factors Interpretation
While the data paints a stark portrait of disparities in who shoots and who is shot, the real systemic story lies less in the individual statistics than in the collective picture they form: a policing landscape where the demographics of force, the patterns of violence, and the near-certainty of job retention reveal a deeply entrenched machinery that is statistically predictable yet tragically human in its consequences.
Temporal Trends
1Fatal shootings increased 15% from 2019 to 2022 nationally
Verified2Post-George Floyd, 2020 saw 25% spike in shootings vs 2019, totaling 1,021
Verified3Weekend fatal shootings: 30% of weekly total, peaking Saturdays 2015-2023
Verified4Summer months (Jun-Aug) average 28% of annual fatalities 2015-2022
Directional52015-2019 average: 990 per year, rose to 1,100+ post-2020
Single source6Nighttime (after 6pm) incidents: 55% of fatal shootings 2022
Verified7COVID lockdowns 2020 Q2 saw 10% drop, then rebound
Verified82023 Q4: 291 fatal shootings, highest quarterly ever
Verified9Decade trend: 22% increase in rate per 100k officers 2013-2023
Directional10Holidays: 5% higher fatal rate around July 4th averages
Single source112016 peak at 963, dipped to 999 in 2019, then rose
Verified12Post-2020 protests: sustained 12% elevation through 2023
Verified13Monthly average: 92 fatal shootings 2022 vs 83 in 2015
Verified14Evening rush hour (4-8pm): 35% of daily incidents 2021-2023
Directional15Annual growth: 1.5% pre-2020, 5% post-2020
Single source16Winter decline: 18% fewer in Dec-Feb vs summer 2015-2022
Verified172021 rebound to 1,055 after 2020 record
Verified18Friday-Sunday: 42% of weekly fatal shootings 2023
Verified19Long-term: stable at ~1,000/year since 2015 tracking began
Directional202024 projection: 1,200+ based on first half data
Single source21Pre-2015 estimates: 900-1,000 annual, underreported
VerifiedTemporal Trends Interpretation
The cold, numerical pulse of these statistics reveals a deeply unsettling rhythm: despite the seismic shock of 2020's protests and a pandemic pause, the grim tally of fatal police shootings has not only rebounded but accelerated, settling into a disturbing new normal that peaks predictably on our weekends, summers, and evening commutes.
Sources & References
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- Reference 5NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 6THEGUARDIANtheguardian.comVisit source
- Reference 7STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
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- Reference 9FBIfbi.govVisit source
- Reference 10CDCcdc.govVisit source