Advancing Knowledge of School Shootings: Analyzing a Quarter Century of College/University Shootings in America

Abstract

Previous studies of school shootings examine K-12 firearm violence and active shooter incidents at schools, but there is little known about the larger school shooting problem at institutions of higher education. To fill this research gap, the current study examines all school shootings at colleges/universities over 25 academic years (1999–2024). This study determines the severity of incidents and casualties over time; the incident, offender, and situational characteristics of college shootings; and what makes the oft-considered active shooter incidents unique from other college shootings. This work provides the next step for advancing knowledge of school shootings and paves the way for future research aimed at understanding and addressing the college/university shooting problem.

Keywords

school shootings firearm violence college violence violence prevention

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