K-12 School Shootings & Active Shooter 1970-2021
An analysis of 1,582 School Shootings and 163 Active Shooter Attacks
Ensuring data accuracy and integrity. Data accuracy and integrity are paramount in the work of data analyst.
Source:
Riedman, David, and Desmond O’Neill. “CHDS – K-12 School Shooting Database.” Center for Homeland Defense and Security www.chds.us/ssdb
The K-12 School Shooting Database (K-12 SSDB) is an unbiased, interactive and live database that compiles all incidents in which a gun is brandished, fired, or a bullet hits school property for any reason, regardless of the number of victims, time, day of the week.
NSSPA Definitions
School Shooting:
Any time a gun is fired on school grounds, involving a school bus, during a school event, during school hours, or right before/after school. 1550 Total Incidents met this definition. 545 Killed, 1546 Injured
Active Shooter:
Actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area. 163 Total Incidents met this definition. 184 Killed, 530 Injured
Source
Riedman, David, and Desmond O’Neill. “CHDS – K-12 School Shooting Database.” Center for Homeland Defense and Security www.chds.us/ssdb
The K-12 School Shooting Database (K-12 SSDB) is an unbiased, interactive and live database that compiles all incidents in which a gun is brandished, fired, or a bullet hits school property for any reason, regardless of the number of victims, time, day of the week.
BY DECADE
SCHOOL SHOOTINGS
1970-1979: 159
1980-1989: 211
1990-1999: 266
2000-2009: 317
2010-2019: 434
2020: 57
2021: 138
ACTIVE SHOOTER
1970-1979: 17
1980-1989: 28
1990-1999: 29
2000-2009: 34
2010-2019: 49
2020: 1
2021: 5
TIME
SCHOOL SHOOTINGS
Fall Semester: 48.5%
Spring Semester: 49%
Morning Classes: 21%
Sport Event: 12%
Afternoon Classes: 11%
Dismissal: 9%
During School Hours: 69%
Not During School Hours: 30%
ACTIVE SHOOTER
Fall Semester: 48.5%
Spring Semester: 49%
Morning Classes: 21%
Sport Event: 12%
Afternoon Classes: 11%
Dismissal: 9%
During School Hours: 69%
Not During School Hours: 30%
ATTACKER
SCHOOL SHOOTINGS
Male: 85%
Female: 4%
Undetermined: 11%
Current or Former Student: < 50%
Attacker Barricaded: 2.1%
Sole Attacker: 82%
Accomplice: 18.3%
Shooter Killed: 12.4%
Shooter Injured: 5.4%
Shooter Suicide: 11.3%
Preplanned Attack: 6% Yes
Teen: 60%
Adult: 21%
Unknown: 16%
Child: 3%
ACTIVE SHOOTER
Male: 95%
Female: 2%
Undetermined: 3%
Current or Former Student: > 80%
Active Shooter Barricaded: 18.4%
Sole Attacker: 91.4%
Accomplice: 8.6%
Shooter Killed: 26.4%
Shooter Not Injured: 74.2%
Shooter Suicide: 21.5%
Preplanned Attack: 43%
Teen: 71%
Adult: 22%
Unknown: 3.7%
Child: 3%
VICTIMS
SCHOOL SHOOTINGS
Student: 63%
No Relation: 12.1%
Unknown: 9.7%
Teacher: 5.2%
Other Staff: 1.9%
Principal/Vice Principal: 1.6%
Parent: 1.6%
Police Officer/SRO: 1.1%
ACTIVE SHOOTER
Student: 78%
Teacher: 8.3%
Unknown: 3.9%
Other Staff: 2.5%
Principal/Vice Principal: 2.3%
No Relation: 2.1%
Police Officer/SRO: 2%
WEAPON
SCHOOL SHOOTINGS
Handgun: 73%
Unknown: 16%
Rifle: 5.2%
Shotgun: 2.4%
Multiple Handguns: 1.4%
Other: .32%
Multiple Rifles: .19%
ACTIVE SHOOTER
Handgun: 53.4%
Rifle: 16.6%
Shotgun: 11%
Multiple Unknown: 8%
Unknown: 6.1%
Multiple Handguns: 3.7%
Multiple Rifles: 1.2%
WHERE
SCHOOL SHOOTINGS
High School: 69%
Elementary School: 13%
Middle School: 9%
Jr. High School: 4%
21% Parking Lot
12% Classroom
10.1% Corridor
9.5% Beside Building
6.9% Front of School
6.2% Off School Property
5.1% Football Field/Track
4.3% Inside Building
4.1% Outside on Property
3.8% Bathroom
3.5% Cafeteria
3.4% Bus
3.1% Gym
2.5% Field
2.4% Office
1.9% Basketball Court
1.4% Playground
1.3% Courtyard
.9% Other
.64% Entryway
.6% Unknown
.5% Auditorium
.5% Both Inside & Outside
ACTIVE SHOOTER
26.4% Classroom
16% Corridor
9.2% Cafeteria
6.7% Office
4.9% Parking Lot
4.3% Beside Building
3.7% Bathroom
3.7% Entryway
3.7% Gym
3.5% Both Inside & Outside
3.1% Front of School
3.1% Inside Building
2.5% Playground
2.5% Off Property
2.5% Football Field/Track
1.4% Field (General)
1.4% Outside on Property