Year End Summary: School Shootings in 2019
As 2019 comes to an end, it nears another record for gun violence in K-12 schools in the United States. Unlike the planned attacks in 2018…
As 2019 comes to an end, it nears another record for gun violence in K-12 schools in the United States. Unlike the planned attacks in 2018 at Parkland, FL, Santa Fe, TX, and Benton, KY, that drew extensive media coverage, 2019 featured many different isolated, low-profile incidents across the country rather than the widely publicized, indiscriminate killing sprees that seemed to dominate the news in 2018.
Averted Attacks Lower the Number of Victims
In May 2019, two students (ages 18 and 16) planned an attack on the STEM school in the suburbs of Denver. The pair was armed with 3 handguns and a rifle when they approached the school. As the older of the two shooters entered a classroom with a gun, a heroic student, Kendrick Ray Castillo, tackled him preventing further harm while sacrificing his own life in the process. Kendrick was the only fatality from the attack while 8 others were wounded. Had he not taken swift action, this incident would very likely have been much worse.
Other attacks that could have been deadly were narrowly averted in Westfield, NJ and Portland, OR by the quick, perceptive actions of community members, police officers, and teachers. In one case, a tip from a friend allowed police to intercept a man with 130 rounds of ammo and a handgun in the parking lot of a school before he could enter. In another, a gym teacher disarmed a trench coat clad student holding a shotgun inside a classroom.
Even with these averted attacks, the number of “active shooter” incidents (an active shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area) at schools declined compared to 2017 and 2018.
The numbers of all instances when a gun was brandished, fired, or a bullet hit school property for any reason, regardless of the number of victims, time of day, or day of week remained close to the 2018 total even with fewer deaths resulting from the gunfire.
Even with 110 different incidents of gunfire at schools in 2019, there were fewer fatal shootings than 2018. Unlike the indiscriminate shootings intended to kill as many random victims as possible at Parkland, Benton, and Santa Fe High Schools, most of the incidents in 2019 targeted specific victims with more isolated impacts.
Despite the decline in the number of planned attacks and lower number of fatalities, it’s important to remember that anytime a gun is fired in a school, it demands immediate attention and resources from law enforcement and school officials. Any instance of gunfire also has a significant impact on the students, parents, and the surrounding community.
Notable Incidents
12/29/2019 — Mason Clark Middle School — St. Louis, MO
A 13-year-old student was found shot to death in the school parking lot early on Sunday morning (killed sometime during the night). The student’s bookbag was found in a ditch nearby. No suspects have been identified and the motive remains unknown.
12/10/2019 — Sacred Heart School — Jersey City, NJ
Police officer attempted to stop two murder suspects a mile from the school. The suspects shot and killed the officer. The 2 suspects with multiple weapons fled the area and then attacked a Jewish Grocery Store across the street from the school killing the owner and 2 customers. Suspects barricaded themselves inside the store for almost an hour hour during a fierce gun battle with police. During shoot out with police, multiple shots struck the school building breaking windows. School was locked down during the shooting and closed the following day. 200 students were inside the school during the standoff and shootout.
12/2/2019 — Waukesha South High School — Waukesha, WI
A 17-year-old male student was armed with handgun and other students reported this to the School Resource Officer. The officer confronted the student in a classroom and notified other officers for assistance. The situation quickly escalated into a standoff and negotiation until the armed student pointed the gun at officers who then fired and injured him. The wounded student was treated, taken to hospital, and arrested. Student told police he carried the pellet gun because of bullying and wanting to scare other students with it.
11/14/2019 — Saugus High School — Santa Clarita, CA
A 16-year-old male student walked to the center of the courtyard of the campus 20 minutes before classes started, set down his backpack, pulled out a handgun then shot 5 students and then himself in 18 seconds. One round was fired at each victim and the final round was fired at himself.
8/30/2019 — Ladd-Peebles Stadium (high school football game) — Mobile, AL
Nine students shot when a 17-year-old male student fired at the crowd in the concourse of the high school football stadium following a dispute between two other men. All victims were between 15–18 years old. Mobile County purchased metal detectors for screening all fans and moved game times to during the day following the shooting.
6/13/2019 — Tamaques Elementary School — Westfield, NJ
Police received a tip about a man headed to a school with a gun. Police found a 46 year-old male in the parking lot holding a handgun with 2 additional magazines and 130 rounds of ammo. The gunman surrendered to police without firing any shots. School had dismissed for day but was locked down. Motive unknown. Suspect lived +110 miles away from the school in Bear, DE and his connection to the school remains unknown.
5/17/2019 — Parkrose High School — Portland, OR
A student wearing a trench coat walked into a classroom with a shotgun. Disarmed and held by the football coach until police arrived without firing a shot. School was locked down and then dismissed.
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5/7/2019 — STEM School Highlands Ranch — Highlands Ranch, CO
Two students planned an attack on the school but they were quickly subdued by other students and law enforcement. The 18 year-old male shooter had extensive history of violent behavior, mental health issues, prior attempted suicides, and abuse. The details of the second shooter, who is a minor, remain unknown.
2/14/2019 — V. Sue Cleveland High School — Rio Rancho, NM
A 16 year-old male student fired a handgun (single shot) in the school hallway, dropped the weapon, then fled the school. Note in student’s pocket said he intended to kill his ex girlfriend (Valentine’s Day). Caught by law enforcement as he was running from the scene. Police reported the shooter had been questioned 9 months ago when he said voices were telling him to commit a shooting at the school.
It remains too early to determine if the number of incidents recorded for 2018, and the similar total in 2019, is a growing trend or a byproduct of better data collection. It is clear that each of these incidents of gunfire at a school have a profound impact on all of the students, teachers, parents, and community members involved regardless of how many people are killed and injured. It also remains challenging to draw comparisons between years because intangible factors like narrowly averted attacks have a significant impact on the number of victims. Rather than focusing on just the numbers, everyone should remember that finding the best strategy for enhancing school security and preventing school shootings is a very complex issue.
To find out more about these incidents and other acts of gun violence at K-12 Schools, please visit www.chds.us/ssdb.
The K-12 School Shooting Database is a product of the Homeland Security Advanced Thinking Program (HSx) sponsored by the Center for Homeland Defense and Security. Follow us on twitter @k12ssdb.
David Riedman is a criminologist, co-founder of the K-12 SSDB, graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School, and Ph.D. student at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa.