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.

Murders in the U.S. by Weapon Type

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}

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

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.

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.

Murders by State: 2024
State	Murders by Firearm	Murders by Non-Firearm
Alabama	405	60
Alaska	24	14
Arizona	228	101
Arkansas	154	23
California	855	394
Colorado	163	70
Connecticut	47	21
Delaware	36	13
Florida	652	222
Georgia	580	128
Hawaii	14	14
Idaho	21	5
Illinois	613	134
Indiana	267	66
Iowa	52	24
Kansas	81	25
Kentucky	197	12
Louisiana	411	72
Maine	No Data	No Data
Maryland	241	80
Massachusetts	68	42
Michigan	292	94
Minnesota	87	37
Mississippi	343	94
Missouri	371	70
Montana	17	17
Nebraska	28	13
Nevada	128	29
New Hampshire	No Data	No Data
New Jersey	118	57
New Mexico	138	48
New York	246	236
North Carolina	463	104
North Dakota	No Data	No Data
Ohio	404	128
Oklahoma	150	63
Oregon	87	39
Pennsylvania	384	127
Rhode Island	10	3
South Carolina	290	59
South Dakota	22	14
Tennessee	451	82
Texas	1,039	261
Utah	43	15
Vermont	10	6
Virginia	280	43
Washington	172	66
West Virginia	51	25
Wisconsin	151	44
Wyoming	11	12

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

Written by

Cassandra McBride