Exploring the Shared and Unique Correlates of K-12 School Shootings by School Type

• In Event: Individual and School Characteristics Associated with School Crime and Deviance

Abstract

Despite their rarity, school shootings have a major impact on public fear and policy. There is a significant body of literature focused on the typologies of school shooters, which sheds light on the similarities and differences in characteristics between classifications of school shooting perpetrators. No prior work, however, examines the role of the school itself; incidents perpetrated in high schools, for example, are likely unique from those in middle or elementary schools. Using data from the CHDS School Shooting Safety Compendium, we explore the correlates of school shootings perpetrated in elementary, middle, and high schools in the United States from January 1970 to June 2022. Findings suggest that incidents in secondary schools are distinct in terms of location, time, weapon type, and number of casualties. This study both adds to the literature regarding characteristics of school shootings at the incident level and informs policymakers about opportunities for preventative school shooting legislation.

Authors

• Judah Lebofsky, Florida State University

• Emma Fridel, Florida State University