Mass Shooter Database | The Violence Prevention Project

Mass Shooter Database | The Violence Prevention Project
Research Database
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.
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202
Total Mass Shootings
1966 - 2025
1,446
Lives Lost
Fatalities across all incidents
2,246
Injured
Non-fatal casualties
Values like “No evidence of” and “Unknown” have specific research meanings.
Learn more about our data coding
Historical Trends
Mass Shootings Over Time
Tracking the frequency and impact of mass shootings in America from 1966 to present.
Incidents
Fatalities
Federal Assault Weapons Ban
Motivations
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
Demographics
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
Life History
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
Facing recent or ongoing life stressors
Adult Trauma
Experienced trauma in adulthood
Locations
Where Do Mass Shootings Occur?
Mass shootings happen across various venue types, each presenting unique challenges for prevention and response.
Retail
20
Restaurant/bar/nightclub
15
Warehouse/factory
12
Outdoors
11
Mental Health
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.
Warning Signs
Signs of Crisis Before Attacks
Mass shooters often exhibit observable changes in behavior before their attacks. These warning signs represent critical intervention opportunities.
Increased Agitation
50
Isolation
45
Depressed Mood
40
Mood Swings
35
Abusive Behavior
30
93%
showed warning
signs
Social Contagion Factors
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
26
Showed documented interest in or studied previous mass shootings
Connection to Other Shootings
12
Had a direct relationship or connection to another mass shooting event
Left Legacy Token
26
Left behind a manifesto, video, or other material to be discovered
Significant Planning
31
Evidence of deliberate, advance planning before the attack
Performative Elements
10
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.
Database
Complete Data Set
202
records
8/1/25
202
Anaconda
MT
Restaurant/bar/nightclub
45
Male
White
Yes/Insider
Other psychiatric disorder
Fled
Apprehended
7/28/25
201
New York
NY
Office
27
Male
Black
No/Outsider
Mood disorder
Yes, at any point before the shooting
Yes
Killed self
Killed self
9/4/24
200
Winder
GA
K-12 school
14
Male
White
Yes/Insider
No evidence
No evidence
Yes
Apprehended
Apprehended
9/2/24
199
Forest Park
IL
Outdoors
30
Male
Black
No/Outsider
No evidence
No evidence
No evidence
Fled
Apprehended
6/21/24
198
Fordyce
AR
Retail
11
44
Male
White
Yes/Insider
No evidence
No evidence
No evidence
Apprehended
Apprehended
10/25/23
197
Lewiston
ME
Retail
18
13
40
Male
White
Yes/Insider
Thought disorder
No evidence
No evidence
Fled
Killed self
7/15/23
196
Hampton
GA
Outdoors
40
Male
Black
Yes/Insider
Mood disorder, Thought disorder
No evidence
No evidence
Killed on scene
Killed on scene
7/3/23
195
Philadelphia
PA
Outdoors
40
Male
Black
Yes/Insider
Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis
Yes, at any point before the shooting
No evidence
Apprehended
Apprehended
5/6/23
194
Allen
TX
Retail
33
Male
Latinx
No/Outsider
Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis
No evidence
Yes
Killed on scene
Killed on scene
4/10/23
193
Louisville
KY
Retail
25
Male
White
Yes/Insider
Mood disorder
Yes, at any point before the shooting
Yes
Killed on scene
Killed on scene
3/27/23
192
Nashville
TN
K-12 school
28
Transgender
White
Yes/Insider
Mood disorder
Yes, at any point before the shooting
Yes
Killed on scene
Killed on scene
1/23/23
191
Half Moon Bay
CA
Warehouse/factory
66
Male
Asian
Yes/Insider
No evidence
No evidence
No evidence
Fled
Apprehended
1/21/23
190
Monterey Park
CA
Retail
11
72
Male
Asian
Yes/Insider
Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis
No evidence
No evidence
Fled
Killed self
11/22/22
189
Chesapeake
VA
Retail
31
Male
Black
Yes/Insider
Thought disorder
No evidence
Yes
Killed self
Killed self
11/19/22
188
Colorado Springs
CO
Restaurant/bar/nightclub
25
22
Male
White
No/Outsider
Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis
No evidence
Yes
Apprehended
Apprehended
10/13/22
187
Raleigh
NC
Outdoors
15
Male
White
Yes/Insider
No evidence
No evidence
No evidence
Apprehended
Apprehended
7/4/22
186
Highland Park
IL
Outdoors
48
21
Male
White
No/Outsider
Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis
Yes, at any point before the shooting
Yes
Fled
Apprehended
6/1/22
185
Tulsa
OK
Office
45
Male
Black
Yes/Insider
No evidence
No evidence
Yes
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
Killed on scene
Killed on scene
5/14/22
183
Buffalo
NY
Retail
10
18
Male
White
No/Outsider
Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis
Yes, at any point before the shooting
Yes
Apprehended
Apprehended
12/27/21
182
Denver
CO
Retail
47
Male
White
Yes/Insider
Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis
Yes, at any point before the shooting
Yes
Killed on scene
Killed on scene
11/30/21
181
Oxford
MI
K-12 school
15
Male
White
Yes/Insider
Mood disorder, Thought disorder
Yes, at any point before the shooting
Yes
Apprehended
Apprehended
5/26/21
180
San Jose
CA
Warehouse/factory
57
Male
White
Yes/Insider
Mood disorder, Thought disorder
Yes, at any point before the shooting
Yes
Killed self
Killed self
4/15/21
179
Indianapolis
IN
Warehouse/factory
19
Male
White
Yes/Insider
Mood disorder
Yes, at any point before the shooting
No evidence
Killed self
Killed self
3/31/21
178
Orange
CA
Office
44
Male
Latinx
Yes/Insider
No evidence
No evidence
Yes
Apprehended
Apprehended
Case #
202
8/1/25
Age
45
Male
Anaconda
MT
Restaurant/bar/nightclub
Race:
White
Killed:
Injured:
Insider:
Yes/Insider
Mental Illness:
Other psychiatric disorder
Suicidality:
Planning:
Leakage:
No
On-Scene:
Fled
Final Outcome:
Apprehended
Case #
201
7/28/25
Age
27
Male
New York
NY
Office
Race:
Black
Killed:
Injured:
Insider:
No/Outsider
Mental Illness:
Mood disorder
Suicidality:
Yes, at any point before the shooting
Planning:
Yes
Leakage:
No
On-Scene:
Killed self
Final Outcome:
Killed self
Case #
200
9/4/24
Age
14
Male
Winder
GA
K-12 school
Race:
White
Killed:
Injured:
Insider:
Yes/Insider
Mental Illness:
No evidence
Suicidality:
No evidence
Planning:
Yes
Leakage:
Yes
On-Scene:
Apprehended
Final Outcome:
Apprehended
Case #
199
9/2/24
Age
30
Male
Forest Park
IL
Outdoors
Race:
Black
Killed:
Injured:
Insider:
No/Outsider
Mental Illness:
No evidence
Suicidality:
No evidence
Planning:
No evidence
Leakage:
No
On-Scene:
Fled
Final Outcome:
Apprehended
Case #
198
6/21/24
Age
44
Male
Fordyce
AR
Retail
Race:
White
Killed:
Injured:
11
Insider:
Yes/Insider
Mental Illness:
No evidence
Suicidality:
No evidence
Planning:
No evidence
Leakage:
No
On-Scene:
Apprehended
Final Outcome:
Apprehended
Case #
197
10/25/23
Age
40
Male
Lewiston
ME
Retail
Race:
White
Killed:
18
Injured:
13
Insider:
Yes/Insider
Mental Illness:
Thought disorder
Suicidality:
No evidence
Planning:
No evidence
Leakage:
Yes
On-Scene:
Fled
Final Outcome:
Killed self
Case #
196
7/15/23
Age
40
Male
Hampton
GA
Outdoors
Race:
Black
Killed:
Injured:
Insider:
Yes/Insider
Mental Illness:
Mood disorder, Thought disorder
Suicidality:
No evidence
Planning:
No evidence
Leakage:
No
On-Scene:
Killed on scene
Final Outcome:
Killed on scene
Case #
195
7/3/23
Age
40
Male
Philadelphia
PA
Outdoors
Race:
Black
Killed:
Injured:
Insider:
Yes/Insider
Mental Illness:
Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis
Suicidality:
Yes, at any point before the shooting
Planning:
No evidence
Leakage:
No
On-Scene:
Apprehended
Final Outcome:
Apprehended
Case #
194
5/6/23
Age
33
Male
Allen
TX
Retail
Race:
Latinx
Killed:
Injured:
Insider:
No/Outsider
Mental Illness:
Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis
Suicidality:
No evidence
Planning:
Yes
Leakage:
Yes
On-Scene:
Killed on scene
Final Outcome:
Killed on scene
Case #
193
4/10/23
Age
25
Male
Louisville
KY
Retail
Race:
White
Killed:
Injured:
Insider:
Yes/Insider
Mental Illness:
Mood disorder
Suicidality:
Yes, at any point before the shooting
Planning:
Yes
Leakage:
Yes
On-Scene:
Killed on scene
Final Outcome:
Killed on scene
Case #
192
3/27/23
Age
28
Transgender
Nashville
TN
K-12 school
Race:
White
Killed:
Injured:
Insider:
Yes/Insider
Mental Illness:
Mood disorder
Suicidality:
Yes, at any point before the shooting
Planning:
Yes
Leakage:
Yes
On-Scene:
Killed on scene
Final Outcome:
Killed on scene
Case #
191
1/23/23
Age
66
Male
Half Moon Bay
CA
Warehouse/factory
Race:
Asian
Killed:
Injured:
Insider:
Yes/Insider
Mental Illness:
No evidence
Suicidality:
No evidence
Planning:
No evidence
Leakage:
No
On-Scene:
Fled
Final Outcome:
Apprehended
Case #
190
1/21/23
Age
72
Male
Monterey Park
CA
Retail
Race:
Asian
Killed:
11
Injured:
Insider:
Yes/Insider
Mental Illness:
Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis
Suicidality:
No evidence
Planning:
No evidence
Leakage:
No
On-Scene:
Fled
Final Outcome:
Killed self
Case #
189
11/22/22
Age
31
Male
Chesapeake
VA
Retail
Race:
Black
Killed:
Injured:
Insider:
Yes/Insider
Mental Illness:
Thought disorder
Suicidality:
No evidence
Planning:
Yes
Leakage:
Yes
On-Scene:
Killed self
Final Outcome:
Killed self
Case #
188
11/19/22
Age
22
Male
Colorado Springs
CO
Restaurant/bar/nightclub
Race:
White
Killed:
Injured:
25
Insider:
No/Outsider
Mental Illness:
Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis
Suicidality:
No evidence
Planning:
Yes
Leakage:
Yes
On-Scene:
Apprehended
Final Outcome:
Apprehended
Case #
187
10/13/22
Age
15
Male
Raleigh
NC
Outdoors
Race:
White
Killed:
Injured:
Insider:
Yes/Insider
Mental Illness:
No evidence
Suicidality:
No evidence
Planning:
No evidence
Leakage:
No
On-Scene:
Apprehended
Final Outcome:
Apprehended
Case #
186
7/4/22
Age
21
Male
Highland Park
IL
Outdoors
Race:
White
Killed:
Injured:
48
Insider:
No/Outsider
Mental Illness:
Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis
Suicidality:
Yes, at any point before the shooting
Planning:
Yes
Leakage:
Yes
On-Scene:
Fled
Final Outcome:
Apprehended
Case #
185
6/1/22
Age
45
Male
Tulsa
OK
Office
Race:
Black
Killed:
Injured:
Insider:
Yes/Insider
Mental Illness:
No evidence
Suicidality:
No evidence
Planning:
Yes
Leakage:
No
On-Scene:
Killed self
Final Outcome:
Killed self
Case #
184
5/24/22
Age
18
Male
Uvalde
TX
K-12 school
Race:
Latinx
Killed:
21
Injured:
18
Insider:
Yes/Insider
Mental Illness:
Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis
Suicidality:
Yes, at any point before the shooting
Planning:
Yes
Leakage:
Yes
On-Scene:
Killed on scene
Final Outcome:
Killed on scene
Case #
183
5/14/22
Age
18
Male
Buffalo
NY
Retail
Race:
White
Killed:
10
Injured:
Insider:
No/Outsider
Mental Illness:
Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis
Suicidality:
Yes, at any point before the shooting
Planning:
Yes
Leakage:
Yes
On-Scene:
Apprehended
Final Outcome:
Apprehended
Case #
182
12/27/21
Age
47
Male
Denver
CO
Retail
Race:
White
Killed:
Injured:
Insider:
Yes/Insider
Mental Illness:
Indication of psychiatric disorder but no diagnosis
Suicidality:
Yes, at any point before the shooting
Planning:
Yes
Leakage:
Yes
On-Scene:
Killed on scene
Final Outcome:
Killed on scene
Case #
181
11/30/21
Age
15
Male
Oxford
MI
K-12 school
Race:
White
Killed:
Injured:
Insider:
Yes/Insider
Mental Illness:
Mood disorder, Thought disorder
Suicidality:
Yes, at any point before the shooting
Planning:
Yes
Leakage:
Yes
On-Scene:
Apprehended
Final Outcome:
Apprehended
Case #
180
5/26/21
Age
57
Male
San Jose
CA
Warehouse/factory
Race:
White
Killed:
Injured:
Insider:
Yes/Insider
Mental Illness:
Mood disorder, Thought disorder
Suicidality:
Yes, at any point before the shooting
Planning:
Yes
Leakage:
Yes
On-Scene:
Killed self
Final Outcome:
Killed self
Case #
179
4/15/21
Age
19
Male
Indianapolis
IN
Warehouse/factory
Race:
White
Killed:
Injured:
Insider:
Yes/Insider
Mental Illness:
Mood disorder
Suicidality:
Yes, at any point before the shooting
Planning:
No evidence
Leakage:
No
On-Scene:
Killed self
Final Outcome:
Killed self
Case #
178
3/31/21
Age
44
Male
Orange
CA
Office
Race:
Latinx
Killed:
Injured:
Insider:
Yes/Insider
Mental Illness:
No evidence
Suicidality:
No evidence
Planning:
Yes
Leakage:
No
On-Scene:
Apprehended
Final Outcome:
Apprehended
Explore Related Databases
Our research extends beyond this database to include comprehensive data on violence across various settings.
K-12 School Homicides
Comprehensive data on violence in elementary and secondary schools
Higher Education Homicides
Violence patterns at colleges and universities
Workplace Homicides
Data on workplace violence incidents and patterns
House of Worship Homicides
Violence at religious institutions
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.
Download the Data