Average Age of Mass Shooters in the U.S.: A Look at Mass Shooters from 1966 to 2024

Report Highlights: The average age of a mass shooter in the U.S. is 34 years old.

20-year-olds have committed more mass shootings than any other age group.
28-year-olds committed ten mass shootings between 1966 and 2024.
The youngest mass shooter in U.S. history was 11.
The oldest mass shooter in U.S. history was 72.
Seven of the ten deadliest mass shootings in the U.S. were committed by individuals in their 20s.

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Methodology

Mass shootings, as defined in this article, are those where four individuals were killed with a firearm (not including the shooter). These shootings occurred in public places and did not involve other crimes, drugs, or familial disputes.

We cross-referenced multiple sources and investigated news articles to ensure accurate reporting.

Average Age of Mass Shooters

Between 1966 and 2024, there have been 200 mass shootings. Of those, the average shooter was 34 years old. ^1,2,3

Age Range and Distribution

Individuals in their 20s lead the charge in mass shootings (69 incidents) between 1966 and 2024. Among them, 28-year-olds committed more mass shootings than individuals of any other age (10), followed by 21 and 25-year-olds (9).

Those in their 40s committed 47 mass shootings, while those in their 30s committed 40. Teenagers and individuals over 50 were least likely to commit mass shootings. ^{1, 3}

Youngest Mass Shooters

The youngest mass shooter in U.S. history was Andrew Golden (age 11). His accomplice, Mitchell Johnson, was the second youngest mass shooter (age 13). The duo pulled a firearm alarm and killed five (4 students and one teacher), injuring ten other children. ^{3, 4}

Oldest Mass Shooters

The oldest mass shooter in U.S. history was 72. Six mass shooters were in their 60s, and 15 mass shooters were in their 50s. ^{3, 6}

Is There a Link Between Shooters’ Age & Number of Victims?

Individuals in their 20s committed seven of the ten deadliest shootings in the U.S. from 1966 to 2024. Individuals in their 40s and 50s committed the ten least deadly mass shootings in the U.S.

Mass shooters in their 20s injured or killed 1,215. Those in their 30s, 455; in their 40s, 514; in their 50s, 105.

Individuals between 60 and 72 killed or injured 1,005. However, 927 of these victims are attributed to the deadliest and most prolific shooting in the U.S. (Las Vegas).^1,2,3

Total Occurences of Mass Shootings Based on Age

Mass Shootings & Age: Wrap-Up

Mass shooters in the U.S. range in age from 11 to 72. Twenty-year-olds committed more mass shootings and injured more people than any other age group from 1966 to 2024.

Twenty-eight-year-olds committed more mass shootings than any other age group, but the deadliest mass shooting in history was committed by a 64-year-old man. Therefore, there isn’t a direct link between the number of victims and the perpetrator’s age.

Sources

Written by

Cassandra McBride

Average Age of Mass Shooters in the U.S.: A Look at Mass Shooters from 1966 to 2024

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