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| Race / ethnicity | Number of incidents |
|---|---|
| White | 80 |
| Black | 26 |
| Latino | 12 |
| Asian | 10 |
| Other | 5 |
| Native American | 3 |
| Unknown/unclear | 13 |
- Region: United States
- Time period: 1982 to Dec 6, 2023
- Published: Dec 2023
Data Analysis and Insights
White shooters lead in mass shootings
Mass shootings involving White perpetrators account for the highest number, with 80 incidents. This represents a significant portion of the total, indicating a predominant racial group among mass shooting perpetrators.Black shooters are the second most common
Shooters identified as Black are involved in 26 incidents, positioning them as the second most frequent racial group. The difference in numbers between White and Black shooters underscores a notable racial disparity in mass shootings.Latino and Asian shooters follow
Mass shootings by Latino and Asian perpetrators are recorded at 12 and 10 incidents, respectively. These figures reveal the diversity among perpetrators but also highlight the significantly lower occurrence compared to White and Black shooters.Other racial categories are less common
Shooters of Other races or ethnicities, including those not fitting into the specified categories, are involved in 5 incidents. Native American shooters are identified in 3 incidents, showing these occurrences are relatively rare.Race or ethnicity unknown in several cases
In 13 incidents, the race or ethnicity of the shooter is Unknown\/unclear, indicating challenges in data collection or classification in nearly 10% of the cases.Racial and ethnic diversity among shooters
The data exhibits a broad racial and ethnic diversity among mass shooting perpetrators, ranging from White to Native American, with varying frequencies. This diversity reflects the complex socio-cultural dynamics at play in such incidents.Frequently Asked Questions
Which racial group is the most common among mass shooting perpetrators?
Which racial group ranks second in terms of the number of mass shootings?
The second most common racial group among mass shooting perpetrators is Black, with 26 incidents.
How common are mass shootings by shooters of Latino and Asian descent?
Mass shootings by Latino and Asian perpetrators occur less frequently, with 12 and 10 incidents respectively.
Terms and Definitions
Race is a social construct referring to a group of people who share similar and distinct physical characteristics. This grouping can include attributes such as skin color, hair texture, and facial features. It is important to note that while race can often correlate with certain biological differences, it has no definitive basis in biology, and its definitions and usage vary across different sociocultural contexts.
Ethnicity relates to the cultural factors, including nationality, regional culture, ancestry, and language. An ethnic group usually shares a common culture, history, language, and geographical area.
This term refers to crimes committed involving the use of firearms, including intentional homicide, accidental death, or injuries, suicide attempts, and assaults with a deadly weapon.
A hate crime is a criminal act, often violent, that is motivated in part or in whole by the offender's bias against a race, religion, disability, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
This is a term for acts of violence that are committed by individuals or groups based within and operating out of the home country and are directed against civilians or infrastructure of that country for political, social, or ideological reasons.
Racial profiling involves using someone's race or ethnicity as grounds for suspecting them of having committed an offense. It's a discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials who target individuals for suspicion based on their race or ethnicity.
Mental health refers to the state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and can contribute to his or her community. In this context, it may refer to the mental and emotional state of the perpetrators of mass shootings.
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U.S.: Mass Shootings, by shooter’s gender
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The subject of gender distribution among U.S. mass shooters reveals a vast majority of these violent acts are committed by males.
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U.S.: Crime
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