It feels like every time you turn on the news, there's another notification about a tragedy. Honestly, it’s exhausting. We've spent the last few years braced for the worst. But if you look at the data for recent mass murders in the US, something weird is happening. The numbers are actually going down.
Wait. Don’t get it twisted.
"Down" doesn't mean "gone." It just means we aren't seeing the record-breaking spikes of 2019 or the post-pandemic chaos of 2021. According to the Associated Press and Northeastern University database, 2025 ended with the lowest number of mass killings since 2006. That’s a huge deal.
But for the families in Cedarbluff, Mississippi, or the survivors of the Annunciation School shooting in Minnesota, these statistics don't provide much comfort. Violence is still hitting communities where they live, work, and pray.
The Reality of Recent Mass Murders in the US
The term "mass murder" usually refers to an incident where four or more people are killed, not including the perpetrator. In 2025, the US saw a 24% drop in these events compared to 2024. James Alan Fox, a criminologist at Northeastern who’s been tracking this stuff for decades, calls it a "regression to the mean." Basically, the world is finally calming down from a very violent peak.
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Even with the drop, 2026 started with a string of violent incidents that remind us how fragile this "safety" is.
- Cedarbluff, Mississippi (January 9, 2026): A gunman targeted three different locations. He killed four family members—including a seven-year-old girl—and then moved to a church residence where he killed a pastor and the pastor's brother.
- Salt Lake City, Utah (January 7, 2026): A funeral at a Mormon meetinghouse turned into a nightmare. An altercation outside the building escalated into a shooting that left two dead and six others injured.
- Grand Blanc, Michigan (September 2025): A man rammed a pickup truck into a Mormon church, opened fire, and then set the building ablaze. Four people died.
Why the numbers look better (and why they don't)
Experts like James Densley from Metropolitan State University note that mass killings are rare enough that a small change in the count looks like a massive trend. If we have 15 mass murders one year and 30 the next, it looks like a 100% increase, but it’s still a tiny fraction of overall gun violence.
While mass murders are down, firearm suicides are actually hitting record highs. The Trace reported that we could finish with over 28,000 firearm suicides—the most on record. It’s a bit of a "missing the forest for the trees" situation. We focus on the big, public shootings, but the quiet violence in homes is actually getting worse.
Understanding the "Public Place" Myth
Most people think of mass murders as "active shooter" situations in malls or schools. In reality, about 82% of these events involve firearms, but many happen behind closed doors. They are often "family annihilations" or domestic disputes that spill over.
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Take the Stockton, California, banquet hall shooting in late 2025. Or the kids' birthday party in California that left four dead in December. These aren't always "stranger danger" scenarios. They are often people who know each other.
The Annunciation Catholic School shooting in Minneapolis back in August 2025 is a prime example of how the definitions can be confusing. Two children died and 21 were injured. Because only two people were killed, it technically doesn't meet the "mass killing" definition of four deaths, yet it was the largest school casualty event of the year.
- Definitions matter: Gun Violence Archive tracks "mass shootings" (4+ shot), while AP tracks "mass killings" (4+ dead).
- Location matters: Most mass violence still happens in private residences, not public squares.
- Weaponry: Handguns are used far more frequently than rifles, even though "assault weapons" get most of the headlines.
The Role of Threat Assessments
Why did 2025 see fewer school shootings? Some experts, like Pete Madfis, point to the fact that 22 states now mandate school threat assessments. We're getting better at spotting the "path to violence" before the first shot is fired.
It’s not perfect. It’s a work in progress. But it’s one of the few areas where the policy is actually showing a measurable result on the ground.
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What You Can Actually Do
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the news cycle, you aren't alone. It’s easy to feel helpless when looking at the map of recent mass murders in the US.
Honestly, the best way to move forward is to look at local prevention. Support community violence intervention (CVI) programs. These are the boots-on-the-ground groups that mediate "beefs" before they turn into shootings on places like Bourbon Street or at local casinos.
Check your local laws regarding Secure Storage. Since many mass killings are domestic or involve stolen weapons, keeping guns locked up is the simplest way to prevent a "crime of passion" or a child getting hold of a firearm.
Stay informed through non-sensationalist sources. The Gun Violence Archive and The Trace provide raw data that helps cut through the political noise. Understanding the difference between a rare mass public shooting and the daily reality of community violence helps us advocate for the right solutions.
Pay attention to red flag laws in your state. In Maine, voters recently approved a red flag law following a mass shooting that killed 18 people. These laws allow families or police to petition a court to temporarily remove firearms from someone in a crisis. Knowing how to use these tools can literally save lives in your own neighborhood.
Next Steps for Safety and Awareness
- Audit your home security: If you own firearms, ensure they are stored in a biometric or high-quality safe, separate from ammunition.
- Research local CVI groups: Look for "Violence Interrupters" in your city and see how you can support their funding or outreach.
- Learn the signs: Familiarize yourself with the "leakage" behavior common in mass shooters—often they tell someone or post about their plans before acting.
- Bookmark the data: Use the Gun Violence Archive to see what’s actually happening in your zip code rather than relying on national headlines.