The Issue: Study of Fatal and Non-Fatal Shootings by Police Reveals Racial Disparities, Dispatch Risks

This analysis is thought to be one of the first published studies that captures both fatal and nonfatal injurious shootings by police nationally, also highlights risks of well-being checks

A new study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions and Vanderbilt University found that an average of 1,769 people were injured a year in police shootings from 2015 to 2020, 55 percent of them or 979 people, fatally. The study covered a total of 10,308 incidents. Firearm research often focuses on fatalities, as they are listed as the cause of death and reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For the first time, researchers analyzed fatal and nonfatal shootings to examine the full context of the issue.

The study, National Burden of Injury and Deaths From Shootings by Police in the United States, 2015‒2020, was published online in the American Journal of Public Health.

The analysis found that overall, when injuries occurred, police responses initiated by a call to emergency dispatchers were 46 percent more likely to end with a fatal shooting injury than incidents where an officer was already on scene. Calls to police to check on the well-being of individuals were 74 percent more likely to be associated with fatal injury than police responses to an incident where shots had already been fired. This includes wellness checks that did not explicitly involve threats or harm before an encounter with police.

The majority of victims in shootings by police—84 percent overall—were reported as armed with a firearm or other weapon, such as a knife or vehicle, during the six-year study period. In more than half of these fatal shootings—57 percent or 3,356—someone other than a police officer was also armed with a firearm. Overall, 364 (3 percent) of injured people possessed a replica or BB gun and 1,531 (14 percent) were armed with a knife. In contrast, in 955 (9 percent) of shootings, the injured person was not armed.

READ THE FULL RELEASE

Our New Website

The Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions has a new website!

Check out our fresh new resources, notable research, and more on our five solutions to save lives – all in one place. Our new website contains comprehensive information on our latest research and reports, state advocacy work, and equitable policies and programs that will prevent gun violence in our communities.

EXPLORE OUR NEW WEBSITE

Why I Give

For too many years America has faced a completely preventable crisis of gun violence. I support the Center because it’s approach of conducting hard research on gun violence has been too long absent and is a key part of the solution.

Stopping gun violence will be a long term process, but we can’t give up. It is preventable. We need to get the story out. We have to do it!

Richard, North Carolina

If you wish to support the Center, please visit our giving page to make a contribution to help prevent gun violence!

State Advocacy

VIRGINIA

Alongside policymakers and community partners such as Virginia Center for Public Safety and Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Alliance, the Center’s Advocacy Manager, Lori Haas, has been working in Richmond to support passage of priority legislation. Dozens of bills regarding firearms were introduced and debated. Legislation was passed to require safe storage of firearms, enhance requirements for concealed carry permits, and add a definition of dating partners to the code section prohibiting firearm possession, expanding protections for victims of domestic abuse. Additionally, included in the budget is allocations for community violence intervention programs as well as funding to train and educate law enforcement and other public safety officials in successful implementation of risk orders. All passed legislation and the budget are now on the governor’s desk for a signature, veto, or amendment.

OREGON

The Center’s policy and advocacy team took part in hearings and conversations around best practices coordinated by the Oregon Alliance for Gun Safety. Presenting to the Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee, Senior Advisors for Implementation, Lisa Geller and Spencer Cantrell, shared their research and made recommendations to improve implementation and education for the Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) law. The team also took time to speak with local law enforcement about the policy and best practices for utilizing it.

Major News Featuring the Center

Time Magazine: What the First Convictions of a School Shooter’s Parents Could Mean for Gun Control in the U.S.

WYPR (NPR) On The Record: How are 'red flag' laws used in Maryland?

Forbes: Open Carry Gun Laws May Boost Suicide Rates, Study Suggests

NBC4 Washington: In Democrat-led session, gun safety advocates ask why Virginia Dems won’t get more on gun safety

NPR: Meet the public health researchers trying to rein in America's gun violence crisis

CNN: Federal law blocks local officials from seeing where guns used in crimes came from. Baltimore is suing to find out

DONATE

The Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
624 North Broadway
Baltimore, MD 21205
United States

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.