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

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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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.

State	Death by Firearm	Death by Non-Firearm
Alabama	613	46
Alaska	49	0
Arizona	417	102
Arkansas	253	36
California	1,417	547
Colorado	268	85
Connecticut	101	31
Delaware	37	0
Florida	1,068	303
Georgia	898	180
Hawaii	19	10
Idaho	27	0
Illinois	948	161
Indiana	408	47
Iowa	68	16
Kansas	126	25
Kentucky	266	31
Louisiana	728	75
Maine	35	0
Maryland	431	107
Massachusetts	115	32
Michigan	503	102
Minnesota	135	52
Mississippi	463	29
Missouri	574	87
Montana	30	0
Nebraska	38	0
Nevada	191	73
New Hampshire	17	0
New Jersey	191	60
New Mexico	214	53
New York	401	307
North Carolina	722	135
North Dakota	18	0
Ohio	698	175
Oklahoma	227	56
Oregon	142	37
Pennsylvania	701	2032
Rhode Island	21	0
South Carolina	445	81
South Dakota	11	14
Tennessee	714	107
Texas	1,730	438
Utah	61	0
Vermont	19	0
Virginia	488	76
Washington	319	71
West Virginia	69	10
Wisconsin	237	25
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

Written by

Cassandra McBride