Between 1966 and April 18, 2024, 836 victims were wounded while 249 victims were killed during K-12 school shootings resulting from an escalation of dispute, defined as a situation in which there was a physical or verbal altercation between the shooter and the victim(s) before the shooting or where shots were fired in retaliation for a previous attack, in the United States. Indiscriminate shootings, where the shooter intends to kill as many people as possible with no particular target, have also been highlighted as a significant source of harm in K-12 schools, with approximately 550 victims either wounded or killed within the provided time period. In comparison, school shootings attributed to anger over getting bad grades or facing disciplinary measures typically lead to a scenario in which teachers or school administrators are the primary targets of school shooters. Totaling less than 100 victims, this type of situation also encompasses shootings carried out by school employees against coworkers or superiors after poor performance evaluations, suspensions, or job losses.
Number of victims wounded and killed by shootings occurring in K-12 schools in the United States from 1966 to April 18, 2024, by situation
Characteristic
Victims wounded
Victims killed
Escalation of dispute*
836
249
Indiscriminate shooting**
382
167
Drive-by shooting (shots fired by a person in a vehicle)
173
42
Accidental (e.g. showing off gun/gun in backpack went off)
129
28
Illegal activity (e.g. robbery, exchange of illegal drugs/stolen property, trespassing)
91
61
Domestic with targeted victim****
58
52
Hostage/standoff (between shooter and law enforcement)
91
15
Anger over bad grade/suspension/disciplinary measures***
73
25
Psychosis
47
25
Bullying (targeted victims due to bullying)
22
17
Racial (targeted victims due to race)
34
4
Murder/suicide (targeted victim and then immediately killed self)
5
17
Officer-involved shooting (only security guard/SRO/police officer fired a weapon)
10
7
Intentional property damage (to damage property without intent to cause injury)
*Escalation of dispute is described as a situation in which there was a physical or verbal altercation between the shooter and the victim prior to the shooting or the shooting was in retaliation for a prior altercation or attack (e.g. a student pulls out a handgun during a fight or a student shoots another student the day after an argument).
**An indiscriminate shooting refers to a situation in which the shooter is targeting random victims with the intent to kill or injure as many as possible (e.g. firing into a crowd, shooting students in random classrooms and in the hallway).
***Anger over grade/suspension/discipline refers to a situation where the shooter primarily targeted teachers or school administrators as a result of poor grades, suspension, expulsion, or discipline measures. Also includes school employees who targeted other staff members after poor performance evaluation, suspension, or loss of employment
****Domestic with targeted victim describes a situation in which the shooter had a romantic/familial relationship with the victim or the victim was in a romantic relationship with a former lover of the shooter.
The source defines a school shooting as every time a gun is brandished, fired, or a bullet hits school property for any reason, regardless of the number of victims (including zero), time, day or the week, or reason, including gang shootings, domestic violence, shootings at sports games and after hours school events, suicides, fights that escalate into shootings, and accidents.
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K-12 School Shooting Database. (April 18, 2024). Number of victims wounded and killed by shootings occurring in K-12 schools in the United States from 1966 to April 18, 2024, by situation [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1459728/victims-of-school-shootings-by-situation-us/
K-12 School Shooting Database. "Number of victims wounded and killed by shootings occurring in K-12 schools in the United States from 1966 to April 18, 2024, by situation." Chart. April 18, 2024. Statista. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1459728/victims-of-school-shootings-by-situation-us/
K-12 School Shooting Database. (2024). Number of victims wounded and killed by shootings occurring in K-12 schools in the United States from 1966 to April 18, 2024, by situation. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1459728/victims-of-school-shootings-by-situation-us/
K-12 School Shooting Database. "Number of Victims Wounded and Killed by Shootings Occurring in K-12 Schools in The United States from 1966 to April 18, 2024, by Situation." Statista, Statista Inc., 18 Apr 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1459728/victims-of-school-shootings-by-situation-us/
K-12 School Shooting Database, Number of victims wounded and killed by shootings occurring in K-12 schools in the United States from 1966 to April 18, 2024, by situation Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1459728/victims-of-school-shootings-by-situation-us/ (last visited July 22, 2024)
Number of victims wounded and killed by shootings occurring in K-12 schools in the United States from 1966 to April 18, 2024, by situation [Graph], K-12 School Shooting Database, April 18, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1459728/victims-of-school-shootings-by-situation-us/
