School Shootings in the United States: The horrifying events that occur at schools, which affect children, teachers, parents, and communities, frequently reignite heated debates around school safety and gun rights. In recent years, many schools have unfortunately become associated with tragic events, reminding us of the extreme impact of school shootings on communities. The entire community is affected, experiencing shock and fear.

What is a School Shooting?

A school shooting is an armed attack at an educational institution, such as a primary school, secondary school, high school, or university, involving the use of weapons. Such incidents usually involve multiple deaths. School Shootings happen in the U.S. at a higher rate rather than elsewhere in the world.

The factors behind school shootings according to the students are getting back at those who hurt them, having other kids pick on them, making fun of them or bullying them, not valuing life, and being a victim of abuse, etc. Other factors behind it can be guns which are the leading cause of death among American children. An estimated 4.6 million American children live in a home where at least one gun is kept loaded. These weapons that are not kept safely have caused School Shootings, suicides, and deaths of many people including babies and little kids.

Most Notable School Shootings in United States

History of Some Deadliest School Shooting in the United States

Here are the details of 10 most deadliest school shootings in the United States till now:

1. Santa Fe High School

The Santa Fe High School Shooting occurred on May 18, 2018, in Santa Fe, Texas, USA. During the incident, the gunman opened fire at Santa Fe High School. Students in school began to evacuate after fire alarms were activated at the school after students heard gunfire.

Dimitrios Pagourtzis, a student at the school, was identified as the shooter. He used a shotgun that he obtained from his father. This tragic event left 10 people dead and 13 others injured.

2. Stoneman Douglas High School

The shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School took place on February 14, 2018, in Parkland, Florida. The gunman was identified as Nickolas Cruz. He was a former student at the school who entered the campus and opened fire on students and staff members after activating the fire alarm. In this tragic event, 17 people were killed and numerous were injured.

3. Rancho Tehama Elementary School 

The Rancho Tehama Elementary School shooting occurred on November 14, 2017, in Rancho Tehama Reserve, a rural area in North California. The gunman was identified as Kevin Janson Neal. He bumped a truck into a gate at the school before firing at classrooms. In this incident, 5 people were killed and 18 were injured.

4. Umpqua Community College 

The Umpqua Community College shooting occurred on October 1, 2015, in Roseburg, Oregon. The gunman was identified as Christopher Harper-Mercer. He was a 26-year-old man, who entered a classroom building on the campus and opened fire, resulting in the tragic loss of  10 lives and multiple injuries. During this incident, Christopher Harper got engaged with law enforcement and then took his own life.

5. Sandy Hook Elementary School 

The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting took place on December 14, 2012, in Newtown, Connecticut. The gunman was Adam Lanza, a 20-year-old man who entered the school with a semi-automatic rifle and carried out one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. During the shooting, he shot 20 children, all of the ages between six and seven as well as six adult school staff members, and then he took his own life.

6. Oikos University 

The shooting in Oikos University took place on April 2, 2012, in Oakland, California. A 43-year former nursing student, One Goh, opened fire at Oikos University, a private Christian college. One Goh targeted individuals at the University due to the feeling of anger. In this incident, 7 people were killed and several got injured.

7. Virginia Tech Shooting

The Virginia Tech shooting, also known as the Virginia Tech massacre, occurred on April 16, 2007, at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia, United States. It was one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.

The perpetrator, Seung-Hui Cho, a senior at Virginia Tech, shot and killed 32 people and wounded 17 others before taking his own life, making it the deadliest shooting incident by a single gunman in U.S. history until the 2017 Las Vegas shooting.

The incident shocked the nation and led to widespread discussions about gun control, mental health awareness, and campus security measures. It also prompted changes in emergency response protocols and procedures at educational institutions across the country.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, memorials were held to honor the victims, and numerous initiatives were launched to support the survivors and their families. The Virginia Tech community and the nation as a whole continue to remember and mourn the lives lost in this senseless act of violence.

8. Nickel Mines

The Nickel Mines School shooting occurred on Oct 2, 2006, in Pennsylvania. Charles Carl Roberts IV, a 32-year-old milk truck driver entered the school and took 10 girls hostage aged between six to thirteen. Robert shot and killed five girls and injured the other five before turning the gun to himself.

9. Red Lake Senior High School 

The Red Lake Senior High School shooting occurred on March 21, 2005, at Red Lake, Minnesota. A 16-year-old student named Jeffrey Weise, at Red Lake Senior School. He killed his grandfather and his grandfather’s companion before going to the school. Weise entered the school building and opened fire resulting in the tragic loss of five students, a teacher, and a security guard. He injured several others before taking his own life.

10. Columbine High School 

The Columbine High School shooting occurred on April 20, 1999, in Columbine, Colorado. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, two high school students, carried out a planned attack, targeting fellow students and faculty members. They entered the school along with firearms and explosives. The shooting resulted in the tragic loss of 12 students and one teacher with many others injured.

11. Florida School Shooting

The Florida school shooting refers to the tragic incident that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14, 2018. A former student of the school, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle, killing 17 people and injuring 17 others. This devastating event sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for gun control legislation and improved school safety measures across the United States.

12. School Shootings in Canada

One notable incident took place at École Polytechnique in Montreal, Quebec, on December 6, 1989. During this tragic event, an individual named Marc Lépine entered the school and targeted female engineering students, ultimately killing 14 women and injuring several others before taking his own life. This attack, known as the Montreal Massacre, sparked national mourning and led to discussions about gender-based violence and gun control in Canada.

In recent years, there have been other instances of violence in Canadian schools, although they have typically involved fewer casualties than the Montreal Massacre. These incidents have prompted concerns about school safety and have led to discussions about measures to prevent and respond to violence in educational settings.

FAQs – Lists of School Shootings in the United States

How common are School shootings in the US?

School Shootings don’t happen often, but when they do, they are a big problem. In US, frequently such incidents come in news either from some mentally disturbed student or some group of people.

Why do School Shootings happen?

School Shootings can happen for different reasons, like when someone feels very sad or angry and decides to hurt others.

What is being done to stop School Shooting?

People are trying to make schools safer by helping with mental health, making it harder to get guns, and practicing what to do if there is an emergency.

Are there common things in School Shooting?

Sometimes people who do Shooting have similar problems like being bullied or feeling left out.

Does news about shootings affect people?

Yes, hearing about shootings on the news can make people feel scared or worried. News reports must be honest and careful.