A new study led by Stanford Medicine reveals a surprising and heartbreaking fact: when children in the U.S. die in mass shootings, the perpetrator is usually a family member.
The research, published in JAMA Pediatrics, is the first to analyze the relationship between mass shooting perpetrators and child victims. It found that in 59% of cases, the shooter was a relative of the child.
Dr. Stephanie Chao, the senior author and an associate professor of surgery, said she was shocked by how common domestic violence was in these tragedies. “It was surprising that so many children who died in mass shootings were killed by a family member,” she said. The study’s lead author, Dr. Pamela Emengo, is a research fellow in pediatric surgery.
Gun Violence: The Leading Cause of Death for U.S. Children
In 2020, gun violence became the number one cause of death for children in the United States, surpassing car accidents. Despite this, many people misunderstand the true risks.
“When parents in America are asked about their biggest fears, they often worry about school shootings,” Chao explained. “But our data sends a clear message: the real danger may be inside our homes, not in schools.”
How the Study Was Conducted
The researchers focused on mass shootings where at least four people were killed, not counting the shooter. They studied 121 incidents that occurred in the U.S. between 2009 and 2020, all involving at least one child fatality. In total, these events claimed the lives of 308 children. The racial and ethnic backgrounds of the victims closely matched the overall U.S. population.
The results showed that more than 40% of children killed in mass shootings were shot by a parent. When adding other relatives—such as aunts, uncles, siblings, grandparents, and cousins—the number increased to 59%.
After family members, the most common shooters were:
- Acquaintances (14.6%)
- Strangers (12%)
- Classmates (6.8%)
- Neighbors (2.6%)
- Criminal associates (0.6%)
In about 4% of cases, researchers could not determine the relationship between the shooter and the child.
Changing Perceptions and Preventing Tragedies
Dr. Chao hopes these findings will help people better understand where the real dangers lie.
“Many believe that mass shootings are random acts of violence that can’t be prevented,” she said. “This belief is reinforced by the media, which focuses on rare events like school shootings or public attacks. But domestic violence happens much more often, and that makes it even more dangerous.”
More than 22 million children in the U.S. live in homes with firearms. The study suggests that removing guns from households where relationships are breaking down or mental health issues are present could help prevent tragedies.
A Public Health Approach to Gun Violence
Dr. Chao emphasized the need for more research and better policies to treat gun violence as a public health crisis. Her team is also working on a school program called PLEDGE, designed to educate children about firearm safety.
The study’s findings highlight a difficult but important truth: while many people fear mass shootings in public places, the most common threat to children comes from within their own homes. Addressing this issue requires greater awareness, responsible gun ownership, and policies that prioritize safety in families experiencing conflict.
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The research findings can be found in JAMA Pediatrics.
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