An analysis of FBI statistics reveal that active shooter incidents in the United States are on the rise.
The FBI identified 20 incidents in both 2014 and 2015. This annual tally is an increase from 17 in 2013, which was the last year of a 14-year FBI study.
The FBI defines an active shooter as “one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area. Implicit in this definition is the shooter’s use of firearms when engaging in criminal activity.”
Some statistics pulled from the 2104 and 2015 incidents analysis:
- Forty incidents in 26 states.
- 231 casualties: 92 killed and 139 wounded, excluding the shooters. Four law enforcement officers killed; 10 wounded in six incidents. Three unarmed security guards wounded.
- Six incidents ended when citizens acted to end the threat.
- Twenty-six incidents ended with law enforcement at the scene.
-14 incidents ended with an exchange of gunfire between the 16 shooters and law enforcement: 12 killed by police, one off-duty; three committed suicide; one surrendered to law enforcement.
- Forty-two shooters. 39 male; three female.
- Two husband-and-wife teams.
- Sixteen shooters committed suicide.
- Twelve shooters were apprehended.
LOCATION
- Fifteen of the 40 incidents occurred in areas of commerce.
+ Nine incidents involved shootings that occurred in business environments generally open to pedestrian traffic.
+ Three incidents occurred in businesses generally closed to pedestrian traffic.
+ Three incidents took place at malls.
- Six incidents occurred in educational environments.
- Six incidents occurred in a variety of open space locations.
- Six incidents occurred on government or military property.
- Two incidents occurred in health care facilities.
- Two incidents occurred at a house of worship or religiously-affiliated facility.
- Three incidents took place or were initiated at a residence.
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