This is a list of the most notable mass shootings in the United States that have occurred between 2000 and 2009. Mass shootings are incidents involving several victims of firearm-related violence. The precise inclusion criteria are disputed, and there is no broadly accepted definition. Only shootings that have Wikipedia articles of their own are included in this list. Detailed lists of shootings can be found per-year at their respective pages.
The Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit research group that tracks shootings and their characteristics in the United States, defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people, excluding the perpetrator(s), are shot in one location at roughly the same time. The Congressional Research Service narrows that definition further, only considering what it defines as "public mass shootings", and only considering victims as those who are killed, excluding any victims who survive. The Washington Post and Mother Jones use similar definitions, with the latter acknowledging that their definition "is a conservative measure of the problem", as many rampages with fewer fatalities occur. The crowdsourced Mass Shooting Tracker project uses a definition even looser than the Gun Violence Archive's definition: four people shot in one incident regardless of the circumstances.
Larger documentation of mass shootings in the United States has occurred through independent and scholarly studies such as the Stanford University Mass Shootings in America Data Project.
Definitions There are varying definitions of a mass shooting. Listed roughly from most broad to most restrictive:
Stanford MSA Data Project: 3+ shot in one incident, at one location, at roughly the same time, excluding organized crime, as well as gang-related and drug-related shootings. Mass Shooting Tracker: 4+ shot in one incident, at one location, at roughly the same time. Gun Violence Archive/Vox: 4+ shot in one incident, excluding the perpetrator(s), at one location, at roughly the same time. Mother Jones: 3+ shot and killed in one incident, excluding the perpetrator(s), at a public place, excluding gang-related killings. The Washington Post: 4+ shot and killed in one incident, excluding the perpetrator(s), at a public place, excluding gang-related killings. Congressional Research Service: 4+ shot and killed in one incident, excluding the perpetrator(s), at a public place, excluding gang-related killings, acts carried out that were inspired by criminal profit, and terrorism.
List of mass shootings (2000–2009)
2009 DateLocation Dead Injured Total DescriptionNovember 29, 2009Parkland, Washington4152009 Lakewood shooting: A man killed four police officers at a coffee shop and fled the scene with a gunshot wound. He was killed by police two days later.November 26, 2009Jupiter, Florida4152009 Thanksgiving murders: A man murdered four of his relatives, and was later arrested and sentenced to seven life terms.November 20, 2009Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands5Including the perpetrator or suspect9142009 Saipan shootings: A gunman shot at people throughout Saipan, before committing suicide at the edge of a cliff.November 12, 2009Pearcy, Arkansas505Pearcy murders: Three men killed five people in two robberies on the same property.November 5, 2009Fort Hood, Texas14Including an unborn child33472009 Fort Hood shooting: A U.S. army psychiatrist opened fire and killed thirteen individuals and injured 33 others.October 17, 2009Toa Baja, Puerto Rico920292009 Sabana Seca massacre: Eight people and an unborn child were killed and twenty others were wounded after multiple gunmen opened fire at a bar.August 4, 2009Collier Township, Pennsylvania49132009 Collier Township shooting: A man entered a women's aerobics class and opened fire, killing three people and injuring nine before committing suicide.April 4, 2009Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania3252009 shooting of Pittsburgh police officers: A man opened fire on police officers responding to a domestic violence 9-1-1 call, killing three and injuring one other by gunfire before he was arrested.April 3, 2009Binghamton, New York144182009 Binghamton shooting: A man shot and killed thirteen people at a civic center in Binghamton, New York before committing suicide.March 29, 2009Carthage, North Carolina8311Carthage nursing home shooting: A man attacked the workplace of his estranged wife, killing eight people and wounding two others before being arrested.March 21, 2009Oakland, California5162009 shootings of Oakland police officers: A man shot and killed two officers of the Oakland Police Department during a traffic stop before fleeing to his sister's apartment. SWAT team officers would raid the apartment, injuring a young girl with a flash grenade before the gunman opened fire, killing two officers and injuring another before he was fatally wounded by the officers.March 10, 2009Geneva and Samson, Alabama11617Geneva County shooting: A man fatally shot ten people and wounded six others in a shooting spree before committing suicide.
2008 DateLocationDeadInjuredTotalDescriptionDecember 24, 2008Covina, California10212Covina massacre: A man entered his former in-laws' home armed with four handguns and a homemade flamethrower. He killed nine people and injured two by gunfire before committing suicide.September 2, 2008Skagit County, Washington6382008 Skagit County shootings: A man killed six people and wounded three others by gunfire in several locations before being arrested by police.July 27, 2008Knoxville, Tennessee2682008 Knoxville church shooting: A former truck driver opened fired at a church during a church youth performance, killing two and wounding six before being restrained by churchgoers. A manifesto written by the gunman attributed the shooting to hatred of liberals, Democrats, African-Americans, and homosexuals.June 25, 2008Henderson, Kentucky6172008 Atlantis Plastics shooting: A plastic factory worker shot his superintendent and five co-workers before committing suicide.March 2, 2008Memphis, Tennessee404Lester Street Massacre: A man fatally shot his brother during an argument, before fatally shooting three witnesses and stabbing five children, two of whom died. Months before the attack, the perpetrator was released from prison after serving 14 years for second-degree murder.February 14, 2008DeKalb, Illinois617232008 Northern Illinois University shooting: A former graduate student entered a lecture hall and opened fire, killing five people and wounding seventeen by gunfire before committing suicide.February 7, 2008Kirkwood, Missouri718Kirkwood City Council shooting: A man opened fire during a public city council meeting, killing six people and injuring one other before being shot and killed by police.February 2, 2008Tinley Park, Illinois516Lane Bryant murders: Four customers and a manager were killed at a clothing store, and a part-time worker was injured in a robbery gone awry.February 1, 2008Cockeysville, Maryland404Browning family murders: A 15-year-old boy shot and killed his parents and two brothers at his family home.
2007 DateLocationDeadInjuredTotalDescriptionDecember 24, 2007Carnation, Washington6062007 Carnation murders: A woman and her boyfriend killed the former's parents, brother, sister-in-law, niece, and nephew at the parent's home.December 9, 2007Arvada and Colorado Springs, Colorado55102007 Colorado YWAM and New Life shootings: A man stormed a dormitory at the Youth With A Mission organization in Arvada, Colorado before driving to Colorado Springs and attacking the New Life Church. He killed four people and wounded five others before committing suicide.December 5, 2007Omaha, Nebraska9413Westroads Mall shooting: A 19-year-old killed eight people and wounded four in a Von Maur department store at the Westroads Mall before committing suicide.October 10, 2007Cleveland, Ohio1452007 SuccessTech Academy shooting: A fourteen-year-old student wounded four at his school before committing suicide.October 7, 2007Crandon, Wisconsin718Crandon shooting: An off-duty sheriff's deputy entered a homecoming party at a duplex with a semiautomatic rifle and killed six people and wounded one. He killed himself later that day.August 24, 2007Marble Falls/Jonestown, Texas505Paul Devoe: An intoxicated man shot and killed a bartender after the shooter attempted to kill his ex-girlfriend and the bartender intervened. The gunman then drove to another ex-girlfriend's house and fatally shot her, her boyfriend, her daughter, and her daughter's friend, then fled. After killing a woman in Pennsylvania, the gunman was arrested in New York. August 12, 2007Neosho, Missouri3472007 Neosho church shooting: A man opened fire inside a church, killing three church leaders and injuring four others before holding the surviving churchgoers in a brief hostage situation.June 14, 2007Joliet, Illinois415Christopher Vaughn: Four family members were fatally shot and another wounded inside a car. The wounded husband was arrested and convicted of the murders.May 19–20, 2007Moscow, Idaho4372007 Moscow, Idaho, shooting: A man killed his wife at their home before luring officers into an ambush at the Latah County Courthouse, where he killed one officer and injured three other people, one of which was an officer. The gunman when retreated into a First Presbyterian Church across the street where he killed the church's caretaker before committing suicide.April 16, 2007Blacksburg, Virginia331750Virginia Tech shooting: A 23-year-old student killed thirty-three students and teachers, and wounded seventeen others. Other people were injured attempting to escape. When police stormed the building he was in, the shooter killed himself.February 12, 2007Salt Lake City, Utah73102007 Trolley Square shooting: A man opened fire in a parking garage and shopping mall and killed five people and injured four others before being killed by police. A wounded victim would die 16 years later.
2006 DateLocationDeadInjuredTotalDescriptionOctober 2, 2006Bart Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania7411West Nickel Mines School shooting: A man took hostages in an Amish schoolhouse, and killed five schoolgirls and injured five others before committing suicide. A wounded victim would die 18 years later.July 28, 2006Seattle, Washington156Seattle Jewish Federation shooting: The perpetrator forced his way into the building, repeatedly shouting that he was angry at Israel and wanted to make a statement, he killed one and injured six, five of whom were injured by gunfire.June 1, 2006Indianapolis, Indiana707Hamilton Avenue murders: Two perpetrators killed a family of seven in a house at 560 North Hamilton Avenue.May 29, 2006Milwaukee, Wisconsin235Octaviano Juarez-Corro: A man shot five people, killing two, after his estranged wife told him that he could not see his daughter. He then fled to Mexico, where he was captured 15 years after being put on the FBI's most wanted list.May 21, 2006Baton Rouge, Louisiana5162006 Baton Rouge church shooting: A man fatally shot four of his in-laws at a church before abducting his wife and their three children. He later slew his wife at an apartment complex.March 25, 2006Seattle, Washington729Capitol Hill massacre: A guest returned to a house party armed with a shotgun and a semiautomatic handgun. He shot indiscriminately, killing six people and injuring two, before committing suicide.January 30, 2006Goleta, California8082006 Goleta postal facility shooting: A woman killed her neighbor before driving to the mail processing plant, where she shot and killed six people before committing suicide.
2005