The FBI designated 61 shootings in the U.S. last year as being carried out by an active shooter, the highest number in the last five years.
Almost 250 people were hit by active shooters in 2021 — 103 died, according to a report released on Monday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The number of active shooting incidents last year represents a 50% increase from 2020 and almost double the number in 2017.
"The FBI defines an active shooter as one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in populated areas,” the bureau said in a statement.
On Tuesday, 14 students and one teacher were killed during a mass shooting incident at a Texas elementary school, in which the assailant, an 18-year-old man, was also killed by responding officers, the state’s Gov. Greg Abbott said during a briefing.
There were 40 active shooter incidents in 2020 with 38 people fatally wounded. In 2017, there were 31 attacks and 143 people were killed.
The report may not be exhaustive, as there’s no mandated reporting obligation or central database for law enforcement agencies across the country.
However, the FBI said it had enough information to make an ominous warning about the trends in active shooting incidents.
"For 2021, the FBI observed an emerging trend involving roving active shooters; specifically, shooters who shoot in multiple locations, either in one day or in various locations over several days,” the bureau said.