Active Shooter Preparedness Stats and Facts

FACTS

  1. Develop a plan to respond to an Active Shooter event to empower employees with the necessary steps to enhance their survivor ability. A corporate and personal safety plan allows one to respond to a crisis event.
  2. Effectively responding to these incidents to reduce harm and save lives is a task that falls not just to the police, but to EMS personnel, security and public safety officials, schools, office managers, and members of the public.
  3. Active shooter incidents are often unpredictable and evolve quickly. In the midst of the chaos, everyone can play an integral role in mitigating the impacts of an active shooter incident.
  4. While some industries face greater risk than others, all organizations now face an unfortunate reality: no company is exempt from the potential threat of an act of violence occurring on their premises.

STATS

  • From 2000–2019, 333 active shooter incidents occurred in 43 different states (and the District of Columbia), collectively resulting in 2,851 casualties. Of the 333 incidents, 96 (29%) took place at a business location open to pedestrian traffic—by far the highest percentage.
  • Active shooter incidents continue to rise across the country, with 40 incidents in 2020 alone. Of these incidents, 24 (60%) occurred in a business environment.
  • In 2018, there have been at least 18 mass shootings involving four or more victims.
  • 70% of all active shooter incidents are within a commerce/business or educational setting.
  • 96% of active shooters are lone males.
  • 40% of active shooter assailants commit suicide.
  • Approximately 25% of companies are unprepared for active shooter incidents.
  • In 2014 and 2015, police exchanged gun-fire with the assailant in 14 active shooter incidents.
  • In nearly half of active shooter incidents, police are unable to respond under 10 minutes.
  • Active shooters are nearly twice as likely to die if the shooting occurs in a factory or warehouse, compared to commercial settings.
  • Copycat active shooter events often happen in clusters, with the risk of an active shooter in the workplace at its highest in the two weeks following a similar incident .