Between 1966 and April 18, 2024, students were the most likely offenders of K-12 school shootings in the United States, accounting for 39.6 percent of the shootings that took place in elementary and secondary schools. Within the provided time period, three percent of K-12 school shootings were perpetrated by a parent, while 2.9 percent were committed by a former student.
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.
Share of K-12 school shootings in the United States from 1966 to April 18, 2024, by relation of shooter to school
Characteristic
Share of school shootings
Student
39.6%
No relation
26.2%
Unknown
12.7%
Non-student using athletic facilities/attending game
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.
Data may differ based on what definition is used.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
K-12 School Shooting Database. (April 18, 2024). Share of K-12 school shootings in the United States from 1966 to April 18, 2024, by relation of shooter to school [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/971554/number-k-12-school-shootings-us-shooter-affiliation/
K-12 School Shooting Database. "Share of K-12 school shootings in the United States from 1966 to April 18, 2024, by relation of shooter to school." Chart. April 18, 2024. Statista. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/971554/number-k-12-school-shootings-us-shooter-affiliation/
K-12 School Shooting Database. (2024). Share of K-12 school shootings in the United States from 1966 to April 18, 2024, by relation of shooter to school. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/971554/number-k-12-school-shootings-us-shooter-affiliation/
K-12 School Shooting Database. "Share of K-12 School Shootings in The United States from 1966 to April 18, 2024, by Relation of Shooter to School." Statista, Statista Inc., 18 Apr 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/971554/number-k-12-school-shootings-us-shooter-affiliation/
K-12 School Shooting Database, Share of K-12 school shootings in the United States from 1966 to April 18, 2024, by relation of shooter to school Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/971554/number-k-12-school-shootings-us-shooter-affiliation/ (last visited July 22, 2024)
Share of K-12 school shootings in the United States from 1966 to April 18, 2024, by relation of shooter to school [Graph], K-12 School Shooting Database, April 18, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/971554/number-k-12-school-shootings-us-shooter-affiliation/