Active shooter cases are increasing in frequency, according to an FBI study released Wednesday.
The study by Texas State University and FBI, “A Study of Active Shooter Incidents in the United States Between 2000 and 2013,” analyzed 160 cases from the past 14 years and found a steady upward trend in occurrences, with an average of 6.4 cases between 2000 and 2006 and an average of 16.4 cases between 2007 and 2013.
Among the active shooter incidents — an individual actively killing and attempting to kill in populated areas, excluding gang and drug violence — used in the study, six occurred in the Los Angeles and Orange Counties in 2002, 2007, 2011 and 2013.
The study’s results underscore the unpredictable and rapid nature of active shooter events. By a federally-agreed definition, an active shooting “inherently implies that both law enforcement personnel and citizens have the potential to affect the outcome of the event based upon their responses,” according to the study. However, 60% of the cases ended before police arrived on the scene.
The unavoidable limitations of law enforcement response shows a “need not only for enhanced preparation on the part of law enforcement and other first responders, but also for civilians to be engaged in discussions and training on decisions they’d have to make in an active shooter situation,” FBI Special Agent Katherine Schweit said in a statement.
Using the data and results of the active shooter study, FBI efforts will concentrate on profiling shooters to further efforts in prevention.