U.S. mass killings hit lowest since 2006; 17 so far in 2025
According to the AP–USA Today–Northeastern database, the U.S. has recorded 17 mass killings so far in 2025 — the fewest since the tracking began in 2006 — with 14 of those incidents involving firearms and roughly two‑thirds of mass killings occurring in or around private homes. Experts say the decline likely reflects a regression to the mean after 2018–19 spikes rather than a durable safety trend, note that none of 2025’s cases were at schools, and point to factors such as improved trauma response and new school threat‑assessment laws in 22 states (as well as parallel declines in mass‑shooting counts tracked by the Gun Violence Archive) as possible contributors.
📌 Key Facts
- 2025 recorded 17 mass killings — the lowest annual total since the AP–USA Today–Northeastern database began tracking in 2006.
- Since 2006 there have been 629 mass killings in the database; 79% involved firearms, and in 2025 14 of the 17 incidents involved guns.
- The database defines a mass killing as four or more people intentionally killed within 24 hours, excluding the perpetrator.
- Gun Violence Archive reports 381 mass shootings so far in 2025, down from 503 in 2024 and 659 in 2023 (noting mass shootings and mass killings are distinct measures).
- About 67% of mass killings occur in and around private homes; none of the mass killings recorded so far in 2025 occurred in schools.
- Experts, including Northeastern’s James Alan Fox and James Densley, caution the 2025 decline may be a short‑term regression to the mean or tied to broader post‑pandemic drops in violent crime rather than a durable safety trend; Fox notes the drop is roughly 24% versus 2024 and ~20% versus 2023.
- Improved immediate trauma response and bleeding control have been cited as factors that may have limited fatalities in some recent incidents; separately, 22 states have recently mandated school threat assessments, which experts say may help prevent school shootings (though not necessarily other mass killings).
- Historical context: the database’s highest annual total was in 2019, reported in sources as between 46 and 49 mass killings.
- The most recent case cited was a Stockton, California child’s birthday party shooting that killed four people, including three children.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2023, the homicide victimization rate for Black persons was 21.3 per 100,000, compared to 3.2 per 100,000 for White persons; Black persons comprise about 13% of the US population, while White persons comprise about 59%.
Homicide Victimization in the United States, 2023 — Bureau of Justice Statistics
From 1982 to August 2025, there were 155 mass shootings in the US, with shooters' racial breakdown as follows: 84 White (54%), 26 Black (17%), 12 Latino (8%), 10 Asian (6%), 5 Other (3%), 3 Native American (2%), and 15 Unknown (10%); population percentages are approximately 59% White, 13% Black, 19% Hispanic, 6% Asian.
Mass shootings by shooter’s race U.S. 2025 — Statista
Over half of mass shootings since 1982 involved shooters with prior signs of mental health issues.
Mass shootings by shooter’s race U.S. 2025 — Statista
Mass killings involving family members made up 48% of all mass killings since 2006.
A look at mass killings in the U.S. — AP News
The mass shooting at the child's birthday party in Stockton, California App is believed to be gang-related.
Gang-scarred Stockton fed up after mass killing at child's birthday party — Los Angeles Times
📰 Sources (4)
- Article reiterates the database’s definition of a mass killing: four or more people intentionally killed within 24 hours, excluding the perpetrator.
- Adds historical context that 2019 recorded 49 mass killings, the highest annual total since tracking began in 2006.
- Includes expert quotes from Northeastern’s James Alan Fox cautioning the drop may be a short‑term swing and not a durable trend.
- Quotes James Densley linking the decline to broader post‑pandemic drops in homicide/violent crime and improved immediate trauma response.
- Notes the most recent case was a Stockton, California child’s birthday party shooting that killed four, including three children.
- Analytical context from Northeastern’s James Alan Fox: 2025 decline likely reflects 'regression to the mean' after spikes in 2018–2019, not a durable safety trend.
- Year-over-year context: mass killings down ~24% versus 2024 and ~20% versus 2023, per Fox.
- None of the mass killings recorded so far in 2025 occurred in schools, according to the database.
- Policy/practice note: 22 states have recently mandated school threat assessments, which experts say may help prevent school shootings (though not necessarily other mass killings).
- Operational response context: experts cite improved bleeding control/trauma response as potentially limiting fatalities in some recent mass-casualty incidents.
- 2025’s total of 17 mass killings is the lowest since the AP–USA Today–Northeastern database began in 2006.
- Of 629 mass killings since 2006, 79% involved firearms; in 2025, 14 of 17 incidents involved guns.
- Roughly 67% of mass killings occur in and around private homes, not public places.
- Gun Violence Archive data show 381 mass shootings so far in 2025, down from 503 in 2024 and 659 in 2023.
- The database’s highest annual total was 46 mass killings in 2019.