WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FBI has released its “2024 Active Shooter Incidents in the United States” report which shows a 50% drop in incidents in 2024 compared with 2023.
The report identifies 24 active shooter incidents in 2024, as opposed to 48 incidents recorded in 2023. These shootings occurred across 19 states and spanned five major location categories: open space, commerce, education, government and houses of worship.
While the drop marks a notable decline, the FBI cautions that active shooter incidents continue to pose serious threats to public safety, with lasting impacts on victims, families and communities. The Bureau defines an “active shooter” as one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area.
From 2020 through 2024, the FBI designated 223 incidents as active shooter events —representing a 70% increase over the previous five-year period (2015–2019). These incidents took place in 43 states and the District of Columbia and occurred across all seven of the FBI’s identified location categories.
The report is part of a series that began following the passage of the Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act of 2012, which tasked the FBI with analyzing and responding to mass casualty incidents.
The FBI emphasized its ongoing commitment to active shooter prevention, response and recovery. Through outreach and education, the Bureau offers training such as the Active Shooter Attack Prevention and Preparedness (ASAPP) program, an options-based initiative aimed at improving readiness among individuals and organizations.
