Mass Shooter Database
The most comprehensive database tracking the life histories of U.S. mass shooters since 1966, with over 200 data points per case. Our research informs prevention strategies and policy decisions.
202
Total Mass Shootings
2 - 2025
1,446
Lives Lost
Fatalities across all incidents
2,246
Injured
Non-fatal casualties
Mass Shootings Over Time
Tracking the frequency and impact of mass shootings in America from 1966 to present.
Understanding Why
Our research identifies common motivational themes across mass shootings. Many incidents involve multiple motivating factors, revealing the complex circumstances that lead to these tragedies.
Multiple Motives Common
Most shooters have overlapping motivational factors
Grievances Central
Employment, relationship, and legal issues frequently cited
Who Are Mass Shooters?
Understanding the demographic profile of mass shooters helps inform prevention strategies and dispel common misconceptions.
Average Age
33 years
Median age of shooters
Gender
98%
Male perpetrators
Education
64%
Completed high school or more
Common Background Factors
Research reveals shared experiences in the life histories of mass shooters, providing opportunities for early intervention.
Criminal Record
57%Prior criminal history
Childhood Trauma
33%Experienced trauma during childhood
Parental Divorce
22%Parents divorced during childhood
Domestic Abuse History
19%History of domestic violence
Recent Stressor
8%Facing recent or ongoing life stressors
Adult Trauma
7%Experienced trauma in adulthood
Where Do Mass Shootings Occur?
Mass shootings happen across various venue types, each presenting unique challenges for prevention and response.
Mental Health Indicators
Mental health plays a complex role in mass shootings. While most people with mental illness are not violent, understanding these indicators helps identify intervention opportunities.
70%
Mental Health Diagnosis
Had a prior mental health diagnosis
18%
Prior Treatment
Received mental health treatment
47%
Communicated Intent
Told someone about their plans
81%
Signs of Crisis
Showed observable warning signs
40%
Substance Abuse
History of substance abuse
69%
Prior Suicidality
History of suicidal thoughts or attempts
Key Insight
The majority of mass shooters showed observable warning signs before their attacks. This presents a critical opportunity for intervention—if we can train communities to recognize and respond to these signs effectively.
Signs of Crisis Before Attacks
Mass shooters often exhibit observable changes in behavior before their attacks. These warning signs represent critical intervention opportunities.
93%
showed warning
signs
The Copycat Effect
Research shows mass shooters are often influenced by previous attacks. These factors highlight how media coverage and notoriety can contribute to a cycle of violence.
Media coverage matters. 26% of mass shooters showed interest in past mass violence, and 26% left behind manifestos or videos seeking notoriety.
Interest in Past Mass Violence
Showed documented interest in or studied previous mass shootings
Connection to Other Shootings
Had a direct relationship or connection to another mass shooting event
Left Legacy Token
Left behind a manifesto, video, or other material to be discovered
Significant Planning
Evidence of deliberate, advance planning before the attack
Performative Elements
Filmed the attack, wore costumes, or staged theatrical aspects
The Violence Project advocates for responsible media reporting that limits perpetrator notoriety while still informing the public about prevention.
Complete Data Set
202 records
| 8/1/25 | #202 | Anaconda, MT | Restaurant/bar/nightclub | 4 | 0 | 45 | Male | White | Yes/Insider | Other psychiatric disorder | — | — | — | Fled | Apprehended |
| 7/28/25 | #201 | New York, NY | Office | 4 | 5 | 27 | Male | Black | No/Outsider | Mood disorder | Yes, at any point before the shooting | Yes | N | Killed self | Killed self |
| 9/4/24 | #200 | Winder, GA | K-12 school | 4 | 9 | 14 | Male | White | Yes/Insider | No evidence | No evidence | Yes | Y | Apprehended | Apprehended |
| 9/2/24 | #199 | Forest Park, IL | Outdoors | 4 | 0 | 30 | Male | Black | No/Outsider | No evidence | No evidence | No evidence | N | Fled | Apprehended |
| 6/21/24 | #198 | Fordyce, AR | Retail | 4 | 11 | 44 | Male | White | Yes/Insider | No evidence | No evidence | No evidence | N | Apprehended | Apprehended |
| 10/25/23 | #197 | Lewiston, ME | Retail | 18 | 13 | 40 | Male | White | Yes/Insider | Thought disorder | No evidence | No evidence | Y | Fled | Killed self |
| 7/15/23 | #196 | Hampton, GA | Outdoors | 4 | 3 | 40 | Male | Black | Yes/Insider | Mood disorder, Thought disorder | No evidence | No evidence | N | Killed on scene | Killed on scene |
| 7/3/23 | #195 | Philadelphia, PA | Outdoors | 5 | 4 | 40 | Male | Black | Yes/Insider | Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis | Yes, at any point before the shooting | No evidence | N | Apprehended | Apprehended |
| 5/6/23 | #194 | Allen, TX | Retail | 8 | 7 | 33 | Male | Latinx | No/Outsider | Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis | No evidence | Yes | Y | Killed on scene | Killed on scene |
| 4/10/23 | #193 | Louisville, KY | Retail | 5 | 8 | 25 | Male | White | Yes/Insider | Mood disorder | Yes, at any point before the shooting | Yes | Y | Killed on scene | Killed on scene |
| 3/27/23 | #192 | Nashville, TN | K-12 school | 6 | 2 | 28 | Transgender | White | Yes/Insider | Mood disorder | Yes, at any point before the shooting | Yes | Y | Killed on scene | Killed on scene |
| 1/23/23 | #191 | Half Moon Bay, CA | Warehouse/factory | 7 | 1 | 66 | Male | Asian | Yes/Insider | No evidence | No evidence | No evidence | N | Fled | Apprehended |
| 1/21/23 | #190 | Monterey Park, CA | Retail | 11 | 9 | 72 | Male | Asian | Yes/Insider | Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis | No evidence | No evidence | N | Fled | Killed self |
| 11/22/22 | #189 | Chesapeake, VA | Retail | 6 | 6 | 31 | Male | Black | Yes/Insider | Thought disorder | No evidence | Yes | Y | Killed self | Killed self |
| 11/19/22 | #188 | Colorado Springs, CO | Restaurant/bar/nightclub | 5 | 25 | 22 | Male | White | No/Outsider | Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis | No evidence | Yes | Y | Apprehended | Apprehended |
| 10/13/22 | #187 | Raleigh, NC | Outdoors | 5 | 3 | 15 | Male | White | Yes/Insider | No evidence | No evidence | No evidence | N | Apprehended | Apprehended |
| 7/4/22 | #186 | Highland Park, IL | Outdoors | 7 | 48 | 21 | Male | White | No/Outsider | Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis | Yes, at any point before the shooting | Yes | Y | Fled | Apprehended |
| 6/1/22 | #185 | Tulsa, OK | Office | 4 | 0 | 45 | Male | Black | Yes/Insider | No evidence | No evidence | Yes | N | Killed self | Killed self |
| 5/24/22 | #184 | Uvalde, TX | K-12 school | 21 | 18 | 18 | Male | Latinx | Yes/Insider | Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis | Yes, at any point before the shooting | Yes | Y | Killed on scene | Killed on scene |
| 5/14/22 | #183 | Buffalo, NY | Retail | 10 | 3 | 18 | Male | White | No/Outsider | Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis | Yes, at any point before the shooting | Yes | Y | Apprehended | Apprehended |
| 12/27/21 | #182 | Denver, CO | Retail | 5 | 2 | 47 | Male | White | Yes/Insider | Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis | Yes, at any point before the shooting | Yes | Y | Killed on scene | Killed on scene |
| 11/30/21 | #181 | Oxford, MI | K-12 school | 4 | 7 | 15 | Male | White | Yes/Insider | Mood disorder, Thought disorder | Yes, at any point before the shooting | Yes | Y | Apprehended | Apprehended |
| 5/26/21 | #180 | San Jose, CA | Warehouse/factory | 9 | 0 | 57 | Male | White | Yes/Insider | Mood disorder, Thought disorder | Yes, at any point before the shooting | Yes | Y | Killed self | Killed self |
| 4/15/21 | #179 | Indianapolis, IN | Warehouse/factory | 8 | 7 | 19 | Male | White | Yes/Insider | Mood disorder | Yes, at any point before the shooting | No evidence | N | Killed self | Killed self |
| 3/31/21 | #178 | Orange, CA | Office | 4 | 1 | 44 | Male | Latinx | Yes/Insider | No evidence | No evidence | Yes | N | Apprehended | Apprehended |
Case #202
8/1/25
Anaconda, MT
Restaurant/bar/nightclub
Race: White
Case #201
7/28/25
New York, NY
Office
Race: Black
Case #200
9/4/24
Winder, GA
K-12 school
Race: White
Case #199
9/2/24
Forest Park, IL
Outdoors
Race: Black
Case #198
6/21/24
Fordyce, AR
Retail
Race: White
Case #197
10/25/23
Lewiston, ME
Retail
Race: White
Case #196
7/15/23
Hampton, GA
Outdoors
Race: Black
Case #195
7/3/23
Philadelphia, PA
Outdoors
Race: Black
Case #194
5/6/23
Allen, TX
Retail
Race: Latinx
Case #193
4/10/23
Louisville, KY
Retail
Race: White
Case #192
3/27/23
Nashville, TN
K-12 school
Race: White
Case #191
1/23/23
Half Moon Bay, CA
Warehouse/factory
Race: Asian
Case #190
1/21/23
Monterey Park, CA
Retail
Race: Asian
Case #189
11/22/22
Chesapeake, VA
Retail
Race: Black
Case #188
11/19/22
Colorado Springs, CO
Restaurant/bar/nightclub
Race: White
Case #187
10/13/22
Raleigh, NC
Outdoors
Race: White
Case #186
7/4/22
Highland Park, IL
Outdoors
Race: White
Case #185
6/1/22
Tulsa, OK
Office
Race: Black
Case #184
5/24/22
Uvalde, TX
K-12 school
Race: Latinx
Case #183
5/14/22
Buffalo, NY
Retail
Race: White
Case #182
12/27/21
Denver, CO
Retail
Race: White
Case #181
11/30/21
Oxford, MI
K-12 school
Race: White
Case #180
5/26/21
San Jose, CA
Warehouse/factory
Race: White
Case #179
4/15/21
Indianapolis, IN
Warehouse/factory
Race: White
Case #178
3/31/21
Orange, CA
Office
Race: Latinx
Explore Related Databases
Our research extends beyond this database to include comprehensive data on violence across various settings.
Use Our Data for Your Research
The Mass Shooter Database is available for researchers, journalists, and policymakers working to understand and prevent violence. Request access to the complete dataset.