Texas Tops FBI List for Active Shooter Events Despite National Decline

Texas recorded more active shooter incidents than any other U.S. state in 2024, according to a newly released annual report from the FBI. Of the 24 incidents that occurred nationwide, down sharply from 48 in 2023, four took place in Texas, the most of any state. 

The FBI defines an active shooter as an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area. Despite the 50% decline in incidents overall, there were still 106 casualties, including both deaths and injuries, marking a 57% drop from the previous year’s 244 victims.

The incidents in 2024 spanned 19 states, with California and North Carolina each reporting two. June saw the highest concentration of events, with five, followed by four in September. Most shootings occurred in the morning, and Monday was the deadliest day of the week, with seven incidents. 

Open spaces were the most common locations, accounting for 50% of incidents, followed by commerce and education settings, which each saw four attacks. Government facilities saw three, and one occurred in a house of worship.

The FBI reported that 29 firearms were used across the incidents—17 handguns, nine rifles, and three shotguns. One attack included an improvised explosive device. Law enforcement captured 14 of the shooters, police killed five, and six died by suicide. 

Of the 25 total shooters, 22 were men and three were women. One case involved multiple shooters. Five incidents were linked to the shooters’ connections to the location or victims, which the FBI classifies as an “insider threat.”

While the overall trend shows a decrease in active shooter events, Texas’s disproportionate share raises ongoing concerns about public safety, gun violence, and preventive measures in high-risk areas.