April 27, 2026
Mass public shootings remain a persistent and highly visible form of violence in the United States. Although these incidents are relatively rare compared to other forms of gun violence, their severity, unpredictability, and concentration in public spaces contribute to widespread public concern and policy attention. At the same time, differences in definitions and data collection approaches across existing sources can make it difficult to fully understand patterns and trends.
This report represents the inaugural edition of an annual series documenting mass public shootings in the United States. Drawing on the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium’s ongoing database, it applies a consistent definition and systematic methodology to identify and track these incidents over time. In doing so, the report addresses longstanding challenges related to variation in definitions and data collection across existing sources, which can complicate efforts to understand patterns and trends. By providing standardized and comparable data on incident characteristics, casualties, and perpetrators, this report is intended to support policymakers, practitioners, and the public in developing a clearer understanding of how these events occur and how they may change over time.
Image Caption/Credit: A message left at a makeshift memorial outside the Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota following a mass shooting at their school on August 27, 2025. (Photo via Craig Lassig/UPI/Shutterstock)
