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FBI: Active shooter incidents dropped 50% in 2024

Forty-eight active shooter incidents were reported in 2023; in 2024, the FBI identified 24 incidents

Officer Violence FBI

FILE - An FBI seal is seen on a wall on Aug. 10, 2022, in Omaha, Neb. A new FBI report shows the rate of assaults on American law enforcement reached a 10-year high in 2023, with more than 79,000 officer attacks reported. The report released Tuesday also shows that the number of officers assaulted and injured by guns is climbing too. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)

Charlie Neibergall/AP

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.

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Joanna Putman is an Associate Editor and newswriter at Police1, where she has been covering law enforcement topics since August 2023. Based in Orlando, Florida, she holds a journalism degree from the University of Florida and spent two years working in nonprofit local newsrooms, gaining experience in community-focused reporting. Married to a law enforcement officer, she works hard to highlight the challenges and triumphs of those who serve and protect. Have a news tip? Email her at news@lexipol.com