From 2000 to 2022, the majority of active shooters in elementary and secondary schools in the United States were aged between 12 to 18 years, with 35 active shooters included in this age group. In comparison, the majority of active shooters at postsecondary institutions in the United States were aged 25 years and above. According to the FBI, an active shooter is defined as "one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area."
Number of active shooters in elementary and secondary schools and at postsecondary institutions in the United States between 2000 and 2022, by age
The source defines an active shooter as “one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area.” Definitions used by other sources may result in differing data.
School shootings are defined as incidents in which a gun is brandished or fired on school property or a bullet hits school property for any reason, regardless of the number of victims, time of day, day of the week, or reason.
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NCES. (August 31, 2023). Number of active shooters in elementary and secondary schools and at postsecondary institutions in the United States between 2000 and 2022, by age [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 23, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/407998/us-k-12-school-shootings-by-age-of-shooter/
NCES. "Number of active shooters in elementary and secondary schools and at postsecondary institutions in the United States between 2000 and 2022, by age ." Chart. August 31, 2023. Statista. Accessed December 23, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/407998/us-k-12-school-shootings-by-age-of-shooter/
NCES. (2023). Number of active shooters in elementary and secondary schools and at postsecondary institutions in the United States between 2000 and 2022, by age . Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 23, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/407998/us-k-12-school-shootings-by-age-of-shooter/
NCES. "Number of Active Shooters in Elementary and Secondary Schools and at Postsecondary Institutions in The United States between 2000 and 2022, by Age ." Statista, Statista Inc., 31 Aug 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/407998/us-k-12-school-shootings-by-age-of-shooter/
NCES, Number of active shooters in elementary and secondary schools and at postsecondary institutions in the United States between 2000 and 2022, by age Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/407998/us-k-12-school-shootings-by-age-of-shooter/ (last visited December 23, 2024)
Number of active shooters in elementary and secondary schools and at postsecondary institutions in the United States between 2000 and 2022, by age [Graph], NCES, August 31, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/407998/us-k-12-school-shootings-by-age-of-shooter/
