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Murders by Weapon Type: Updated 2025

Publish Date: March 24th, 2025

Homicides in the U.S. have risen to levels similar to those seen in the 1980s. The most commonly used weapons are firearms, unspecified weapons, and sharp objects.

Report Highlights:

  • Since 2020, there has been a 33% increase in firearm usage in homicides.

  • Between 1979 and 2014, other weapons were used in 30% - 40% of homicides, but by 2021, this decreased to under 20%.

  • Mississippi has the highest rate of firearm usage in homicides at 91%.

  • South Dakota has the highest rate of other weapons usage, with 74% of homicides involving non-firearm weapons.

  • Handguns, knives, and personal weapons are used in more homicides than rifles, shotguns, or asphyxiation methods.

Report Highlights - Murders by Weapon and Type

Related Studies: Gun Death Statistics by Caliber | US Firearm Deaths Per Year | Stray Bullet Death Statistics | What Percentage of Gun Deaths are Suicides?

Murders in the U.S. by Weapon Type

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Weapon Type Percentage of Homicides
Firearms 79.0
Sharp Objects 7.0
Unspecified Injuries 5.7
Suffocation 2.6
Blunt Force Injuries 2.0
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Weapon Type Number of Homicides
Handgun 7,936
Unspecified Firearm 5,704
Knife/Sharp Object 1,630
Personal Weapons (Hands/Fists) 665
Rifle 541

Since 1979, firearms have been used in more than half of all homicides. However, the rate of firearm use in homicides has increased significantly since 2021. Before 2021, other weapons accounted for 30% to 40% of all homicides. In 2021, firearms were used in over 80% of homicides for the first time in U.S. history.1, 2, 3

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Murders by Weapon Type in the US

Knife Deaths vs. Gun Deaths in the U.S.

Between 2018 and 2025 (provisional), there have been 150,642 murders in the U.S. 78% (117,338) of homicides were committed with firearms versus 8% (12,036) with knives or other cutting objects.

The total rate of homicides in the U.S. during these eight years was 5.7/100k. Gun murder rates averaged 4.4/100k, while stabbing deaths averaged 0.5/100k.

Homicides by Mechanism of Death

Murders by Weapon Type by State

As of 2023, Mississippi has the highest rate of firearm-related homicides, with firearms involved in 91% of cases, while South Dakota has the highest rate of homicides involving other objects, at 74%. 2

Southern states such as Louisiana, Alabama, and Tennessee also have high rates of firearm-related homicides, with 88%, 89%, and 86%, respectively. In Washington, D.C., and Missouri, firearms are involved in 85% of homicides, followed by 84% in Virginia and Kentucky, and 83% in Indiana, Illinois, Georgia, Wisconsin, and North Carolina.

Homicides involving other objects occur at higher rates in New York (44%), Hawaii (46%), New Hampshire (43%), and Nebraska (42%).

On average, firearms are used more frequently than any other weapon type in every state except South Dakota, where eleven out of forty-two homicides in 2023 involved firearms.

Texas, California, Florida, Illinois, and Georgia contributed the most homicides to the nation’s total. Firearms were used in 72% of homicides in California, 78% in Florida, 79% in Texas, and 83% in both Illinois and Georgia.

Wyoming, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and North Dakota had the fewest homicides in 2023. Weapon data for Wyoming is unavailable, but firearms were used in 72% of homicides in Vermont, 64% in Rhode Island, 72% in New Hampshire, and 61% in North Dakota.

2
State Death by Firearm Death by Non-Firearm
Alabama61346
Alaska490
Arizona417102
Arkansas25336
California1,417547
Colorado26885
Connecticut10131
Delaware370
Florida1,068303
Georgia898180
Hawaii1910
Idaho270
Illinois948161
Indiana40847
Iowa6816
Kansas12625
Kentucky26631
Louisiana72875
Maine350
Maryland431107
Massachusetts11532
Michigan503102
Minnesota13552
Mississippi46329
Missouri57487
Montana300
Nebraska380
Nevada19173
New Hampshire170
New Jersey19160
New Mexico21453
New York401307
North Carolina722135
North Dakota180
Ohio698175
Oklahoma22756
Oregon14237
Pennsylvania7012032
Rhode Island210
South Carolina44581
South Dakota1114
Tennessee714107
Texas1,730438
Utah610
Vermont190
Virginia48876
Washington31971
West Virginia6910
Wisconsin23725
Wyoming//

Homicide in America: Weapons & Trends

Firearms have been the most commonly used weapon in homicides for decades, but their usage has increased by 33% over the past five years.

Despite decreased access to firearms and the implementation of stricter gun control laws, more offenders are using firearms in homicides than ever before. In contrast, during the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, knives and personal weapons were more commonly used. Unspecified weaponry, knives, and firearms continue to be the most frequently used weapons in homicides compared to other weapon types.

Sources

  1. CDC Wonder Database 2018-2022
  2. CDC Provisional Wonder Database 2018-2023
  3. CDC Compressed Mortality Database 1979-1998
  4. FBI Expanded Homicides 2013-2019
  5. Number of Murder Victims by Weapon Used 2022
Cassandra McBride
Written by
Cassandra McBride

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