Mass Killings in the U.S. Hit 20-Year Low in 2025

The United States has reported its least number of mass killings in the last twenty years. The most recent incident occurred at a family function in Stockton, California, leading to four fatalities and marking the 17th mass killing for the year 2025.

This total denotes a significant drop of nearly 59 percent compared to 2019, which recorded an all-time high of 41 mass killings. Mass killings are characterized as events where four or more individuals are intentionally slain within a 24-hour period, not counting the assailant. This information is sourced from police and judicial documents as well as media reports.

James Alan Fox, a criminologist overseeing the tracking database, mentioned that the count for mass killings in 2025 is approximately 24 percent lower than the preceding year, which was already down roughly 20 percent from 2023. He posits that this decline may reflect a “regression to the mean,” indicating a return to standard levels of crime following irregular peaks.

Experts advise caution regarding the volatility of these figures. According to James Densley, a professor of criminal justice, “small fluctuations can appear significant since mass killings usually number only a handful each year, though they generally mirror average patterns.”

Several contributing factors may be impacting this downward trend. Nationwide violent crime and homicide figures have seen reductions since their peak during the COVID-19 crisis. Moreover, enhanced emergency response systems have played a crucial role in minimizing deaths during mass casualty situations. For instance, a school shooting in Minnesota last August led to two deaths and over 20 injuries; experts credit rapid medical care and local hospitals for numerous lives saved.

Regardless of these positive developments, gun violence continues to be a pressing issue. Eric Madfis, a criminal justice expert, remarked, “Even with these declines, the U.S. still faces alarmingly high rates of mass shootings compared to other nations.”

In 2025, roughly 82 percent of mass killings involved firearms. Since 2006, a total of 3,234 individuals have lost their lives due to mass killings in the U.S., with firearms responsible for 81 percent of these deaths.