Firearm Homicides by Police in the United States: Who is Shot and How Many Times?

Introduction

The U.S. has the highest rate of deadly police encounters in the developed world. Recent cases highlight that police shoot individual suspects several times. This study aimed to assess variation in rates of police firearm homicide and the number of gunshot wounds among those shot and killed by police.

Methods

National Violent Death Reporting System was analyzed in 2023/2024, using data from 2005 to 2020 to estimate rates of police homicide across populations. Negative binomial regression models were used to evaluate factors associated with a greater number of GSWs among those who died due to police firearm homicide.

Results

Across 46 states and 2.09 billion person-years, 6.4% of all firearm homicides were by police (n=5,241). A total of 79% of police victims were shot multiple times (mean=5.98 gunshot wounds), compared with 65% of civilian victims (mean=3.94 gunshot wounds). The rate of police firearm homicide per million person-years was highest for victims aged 25–44 years (5.23); males (4.91); Black (4.61), Hispanic (3.76), and American Indian/Alaska Native people (4.74); and residents of the West (4.65). Accounting for victim weapon use, those aged 35–44 years (IRR=1.13, 95% CI=1.03, 1.23), who were Black (IRR=1.10, 95% CI=1.02, 1.17), or outside of the Northeast (IRRs=1.19–1.34) were most likely to suffer from more gunshot wounds.

Conclusions

In firearm homicides, police cause more gunshot wounds per fatality than civilians. Those who are aged 25–44 years, who are Black, or who live outside of the Northeast are more likely to die from police firearm homicide and have more gunshot wounds per fatality.