The number of school shootings decreased 30% from 2024 to 2025, according to a new report from Omnilert, an AI gun detection company.
The report, published Jan. 14, also determined the number of deaths and injuries in K-12 school shootings decreased 26% from 2024. Despite this improvement, 4,463 children and teens were killed or injured by gun violence in 2025.
Mass Shootings Down in 2025
The report also shows mass shootings decreased 19% from 2024, and deaths from gun violence decreased by 5%.
Still, 38,762 were killed by guns in 2025 — equating to 106 deaths per day — and 26,258 people were injured.
Swatting in Schools Up in 2025
The report also found swatting incidents increased in 2025, particularly at schools and universities. Swatting is a tactic where false threats are reported to emergency responders to provoke a large-scale law enforcement response.
Related Article: Surge in Swatting Incidents: Number of Hoax Threats Continues to Grow
During the 2025 fall semester, institutions that went into lockdown as the result of swatting include:
- University of Colorado Boulder
- Villanova University
- University of Arkansas
- Northern Arizona University
- Iowa State University
- University of New Hampshire
- University of South Carolina
- University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
According to the report, swatting incidents cost taxpayers over $1 billion in the last two years.
The Role of Layered Safety in Gun Violence Prevention
The report emphasizes how layered safety, such as physical security and community programs, is making a difference in gun prevention.
While many K-12 stakeholders often voice concerns over the perceived militarization of schools, 75% of principals reported they believe their security measures have a positive impact on school climate.
Related Article: Weapons Detection in Schools and Healthcare: Experts Share 2025 Predictions
The report also determined the majority of K-12 public schools have adopted the following physical security measures:
- Controlling access to buildings (97%)
- Requiring visitor check-ins (98%)
- Equipping classrooms with interior locks (73%)
Based on school shooting statistics, perimeter security should also be a priority for schools, the company says. Over the last six decades, two-thirds of all school shootings happened outdoors, including in:
- Parking lots (823)
- Front of school (366)
- Beside building (278)
- Playground (95)
- Outside school (146)
- Field/track (284)
“Outdoor security matters for every type of building— not just schools — as shown in July 2025 when a shooter openly walked onto a midtown Manhattan property with a semi-automatic rifle before entering and killing several people,” the researchers wrote, referencing an incident in which a gunman opened fire inside the NFL headquarters.
See the full report infographic here.
