A national examination of firearm injuries described as “suicide by cop” among injurious shootings by police

Abstract

Research Summary “Suicide by cop” (SbC) incidents—police‐involved shootings wherein an individual experiencing a mental health crisis engages in life‐threatening behavior with an aim of eliciting a lethal response from police—represent a critical intersection of policy and practice, mental health, and public safety in the United States. This study analyzes police‐involved shootings described as “SbC” compared with other police shootings involving people with mental and behavioral health conditions. Data were from the Augmented Gun Violence Archive. Over 6 years (2015–2020), 382 cases of “SbC” shootings accounted for 3.6% of all police shootings ( N = 10,615) and 15.5% of shootings involving mental and behavioral health conditions ( n = 2,458). Most cases involved individuals with suicidal or self‐harming behaviors, but a subset ( n = 46) were labeled “SbC” without other suicidal indicators and some followed standoff situations. Among all mental and behavioral health‐involved injurious shootings by police, those described as “SbC” were significantly more likely to occur in public or commercial locations (vs. residential). “SbC” shootings were also more likely to be associated with police responses to domestic disturbances, trespassing, threats, weapons complaints, investigation activities, or arrest attempts compared with encounters that began as crises. Policy Implications The basis for a “SbC” designation remains unclear, and reliance on criminal legal data systems may inhibit accurate understanding of and responses to this issue, impacting resource allocation. Observed patterns challenge current “SbC” diagnostic practices and highlight the risks inherent in relying on police as first responders to mental health crises. Findings underscore systemic failures in mental health care and contribute to ongoing policy debates on crisis response, police training, and the need to shift crisis intervention response to public health professionals. Funding should prioritize shifting resources to community mental health infrastructure.