Active Shooter Incidents Dropped by 50% in 2024, FBI reports

Although there were 24 active shooter incidents in 2024 compared to 48 in 2023, the FBI's report noted that there has been a 70% spike in the incidents when comparing five-year spans.

By Kaylee Remington

Source cleveland.com

June 3, 2025

2 min read

Although There Were 24 Active Shooter Incidents In 2024 Compared To 48 In 2023, The Fbi's Report Noted That There Has Been A 70% Spike In The Incidents From 2020 To 2024 Compared To The Previous Five Year Period

The FBI has reported a significant decline in one of the nation’s most devastating forms of violence.

According to the 2024 Active Shooter Incidents in the United States report, released Tuesday, the number of active shooter incidents dropped by 50% compared to 2023.

The FBI identified 24 active shooter incidents in 2024, down from 48 in 2023, the report says. The incidents spanned 19 states and happened across five types of locations: open spaces, commercial areas, educational institutions, government buildings and houses of worship, it added.

While the drop is uplifting, the report places it in a broader context. Between 2020 and 2024, the FBI designated 223 active shooter incidents, marking a 70% increase over the previous five-year period (2015–2019), the report says.

The FBI defines an active shooter as “one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area.” The agency emphasized that the events continue to cause devastating loss and trauma across communities.

The report also highlights the FBI’s efforts to support law enforcement and the public through training and preparedness programs, including the Active Shooter Attack Prevention and Preparedness initiative. The resources aim to improve survival outcomes and response strategies in the event of an attack, the FBI said.

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