Mass killings in the United States have fallen to their lowest level so far this year since national tracking began in 2006, signaling a notable decline after years marked by pandemic-era violence. Researchers say the downturn reflects a broader cooling of violent crime across the country, though experts caution that mass killing totals can fluctuate sharply from year to year because the overall number of incidents remains relatively small.
So far in 2025, 17 mass killings have been recorded. The most recent occurred at a child’s birthday party in California, where three children and one adult were killed. By comparison, the highest annual total on record was 46 incidents in 2019. A separate national tracking system that includes incidents where victims survive also shows a decline this year, with 381 mass shootings recorded so far, down from 503 last year and 659 the year before.
Data consistently show that firearms are the primary weapon used in these attacks. This year, guns were involved in 14 of the 17 incidents, and historically, nearly 80% of all recorded mass killings have involved firearms. Another key finding is that most of these tragedies do not occur in public spaces, as commonly assumed. About two-thirds happen in or around private homes.
Despite the decline in mass killings, the broader impact of gun violence remains widespread. Violent crime overall has decreased in many major cities since peaking during the COVID era, but deadly shootings continue to affect communities nationwide. While recent years have seen new initiatives aimed at reducing gun violence, including expanded safety measures and intervention programs, experts stress that a lower count of mass killings alone does not fully capture the ongoing toll of gun-related deaths in the U.S.