A new report sheds light on gun-related incidents in the United States and explores when, where, and why shootings occur.
According to the 2024 Gun Violence Report from ZeroEyes, 90% of gun incidents resulted in injury (60%) or fatalities (30%) last year, illustrating the critical nature of the gun violence epidemic. The analysis extends beyond mass fatality events. Delving into an analysis of 5,462 gun incidents in 2024, the report uncovers trends that aim to inform and facilitate tangible actions to address and mitigate gun violence:
- Majority of Incidents Originate in Outdoor Spaces: 3,235 incidents occurred in outdoor locations, highlighting the vulnerability of open areas.
- Back-to-School Violence: September emerged as the deadliest month of 2024, with 728 incidents coinciding with the return to classrooms.
- Retail and Education Targets: Retail spaces and K-12 schools topped the list of affected areas in 2024, with 1,459 and 1,417 incidents, respectively.
- Elusive Perpetrators: 1,885 suspects managed to evade capture, exposing significant challenges in law enforcement response.
The report also highlights less obvious, but equally concerning, trends:
- Prevalence of Handguns: Handguns were the most commonly used weapon, accounting for at least 2,120 incidents in 2024. However, imitation and non-lethal weapons were involved in 281 incidents, highlighting that the mere appearance of a firearm, regardless of its functionality, can escalate tensions or trigger panic.
- Violence in Parking Lots: 1,848 incidents occurred in parking lots, exposing these often-overlooked areas as high-risk zones.
- Early Morning Incidents: With an average incident time of 12:55 p.m., the report reveals critical windows of vulnerability across different industries.
“This unprecedented analysis doesn’t just present numbers—it provides a roadmap for action,” said Erin Acheson, ZeroEyes’ VP of business intelligence. “By understanding the when, where, and how of gun violence, we can develop targeted strategies to save lives and create safer communities.”
The full report is available for download here.
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