The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines a mass shooting as a fatal shooting involving three or more victims.
Mass shootings that occur in public (rather than in a residence) have become increasingly common in the United States. The rise in public mass shootings began in the 1980s and coincides with the rapid increase in the sale of semiautomatic weapons with detachable high-capacity ammunition magazines. As the gun industry sells and markets firearms designed for increased lethality, mass shooters purchase these same weapons to use in their attacks.
VPC research has also found that mass shootings are not infrequently committed by individuals with permits to carry concealed handguns. VPC’s Concealed Carry Killers database has identified at least 37 mass shootings since 2007 involving persons with concealed carry permits.
Fact Sheets
Mass Shootings Involving Concealed Handgun Permit Holders
Mass Shootings in the United States Involving Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines
Mass Shooting Investigative Reports Library
The Violence Policy Center Mass Shooting Investigative Reports Library collects post-shooting investigations conducted by local, state, and federal entities and related court documents. These reports are often exhaustive and rich in detail about the types and sources of firearms and accessories used in the attacks, as well as the motivations of the shooter and the impact of the incidents on affected communities. The reports can help researchers, advocates, and the general public better understand the phenomena of public mass shootings and aid in identifying effective measures to prevent such tragedies.
Lewiston, Maine, October 25, 2023
Final Report of the Independent Commission to Investigate the Facts of the Tragedy in Lewiston, August 20, 2024
Old National Bank, Louisville, Kentucky, April 10, 2023
Louisville Metro Police Department Investigative Report
Michigan State University, February 13, 2023
Michigan State University Investigative Updates on Feb. 13 Shooting
After-Action Review of the Response to a Mass Shooting on the Campus
Robb Elementary School, Uvalde, Texas, May 24, 2022
Department of Justice Critical Incident Review: Active Shooter at Robb Elementary School (Para la versión en español haga “click” aquí)
Texas House of Representatives, Investigative Committee Report On the Robb Elementary Shooting
Tops Supermarket, Buffalo, New York, May 14, 2022
Office of the New York State Attorney General Investigative Report
Oxford High School, Oxford, Michigan, November 30, 2021
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, San Jose, California, May 26, 2021
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority/Samuel Cassidy – Investigative Findings
Joint Letter from ATU International and ATU Local 265 to VTA Board of Directors re: Investigative Findings
King Soopers Grocery Store, Boulder, Colorado, March 22, 2021
Affidavit for Arrest Warrant
District Attorney Report on Shooting
Midland and Odessa, Texas, August 31, 2019
Texas Department of Public Safety Report of Investigation
Dayton, Ohio, August 4, 2019
Wal-Mart, El Paso, Texas, August 3, 2019
Superseding Indictment of Shooter
Gilroy Garlic Festival, Gilroy, California, July 28, 2019
Virginia Beach Municipal Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia, May 31, 2019
Virginia Beach Police Department Final Investigation Summary Report
Borderline Bar & Grill, Thousand Oaks, California, November 7, 2018
District Attorney Report
Ventura County Sheriff Report
Yountville Veteran’s Home, Yountville, California, March 9, 2018
District Attorney Report
California Highway Patrol Report
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Florida, February 14, 2018
Public Safety Commission Initial Report
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission Report Submitted to the Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Senate President
First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Sutherland Springs, Texas, November 5, 2017
U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General’s Report
Route 91 Harvest Festival, Las Vegas, Nevada, October 1, 2017
Las Vegas Police Report
FBI Behavioral Unit Report
FBI Vault documents
Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport, January 6, 2017
Broward County Sheriff’s Office Critical Incident Report
Broward County Aviation Department After-Action Report
Baton Rouge Law Enforcement Shooting, Baton Rouge, July 17, 2016
Pulse Nightclub, Orlando, Florida, June 12, 2016
Pulse-Related Public Records
FBI Investigative Update Part 1
FBI Investigative Update Part 2
US Department of Justice/Police Foundation incident review
Lessons Learned From the Pulse Nightclub Shooting: An Interview with Staff from Orlando Regional Medical Center
San Bernardino Inland Regional Center, San Bernardino, California, December 2, 2015
U.S. Department of Justice/Police Foundation Incident Review
District Attorney Report
Navy Operational Support Center & Marine Corps Reserve Center, Chattanooga, Tennessee, July 16, 2015
Isla Vista Mass Murder, Isla Vista, California, May 23, 2014
Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Summary
Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., September 16, 2013
Metropolitan Police Department After Action Report
Santa Monica, California, June 7, 2013
Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Connecticut, December 14, 2012
State’s Attorney Report
Sandy Hook Advisory Commission Final Report
FBI Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting Report Part 1
FBI Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting Report Part 2
Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, Oak Creek, Wisconsin, August 5, 2012
FBI Report Part 1
FBI Report Part 2
FBI Report Part 3
FBI Report Part 4
FBI Report Part 5
FBI Report Part 6
FBI Report Part 7
FBI Report Part 8
FBI Report Part 9
FBI Report Part 10
FBI Report Part 11
FBI Report Part 12
Century Aurora 16 Movie Theater, Aurora, Colorado, July 20, 2012
City of Aurora After Action Report
Hartford Distributors, Manchester, Connecticut, August 3, 2010
Manchester Police Incident Report
ABB, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri, January 7, 2010
St. Louis Police Incident Report
American Civic Association, Binghamton, New York, April 3, 2009
Broome County After Action Report & Improvement Plan
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, February 14, 2008
Northern Illinois University Incident Report
New Life Church, Arvada, Colorado, December 9, 2007
Arvada Police Department Supplemental Report
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, April 16, 2007
Virginia Tech Review Panel Incident Report
Mail Processing Plant, Goleta, California, January 6, 2006
Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department Incident Report
Edgewater Technology Inc., Wakefield, Massachusetts, December 26, 2000
Commonwealth v. McDermott, Massachusetts Supreme Court Decision
Xerox, Honolulu, Hawaii, November 2, 1999
State v. Uyesugi, Hawaii Supreme Court Decision
Columbine High School, Littleton, Colorado, April 20, 1999
Colorado Governor’s Columbine Review Commission Report
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Incident Report
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Final Report
Jefferson County SWAT Report
Fairchild Air Force Base Hospital, Spokane, Washington, June 20, 1994
Department of the Air Force Report of Investigation
“Looking back: Fairchild shootings,” Spokesman-Review, June 17, 2010
Cleveland Elementary School, Stockton, California, January 17, 1989
California Attorney General Report
Palm Bay Shopping Center, Palm Bay, Florida, April 23, 1987
Cruse v. State, Florida Supreme Court Decision
