Firearm Homicides Decrease in 2024, While Suicides Reach Record Levels

NewsWK — In 2024, firearm-related deaths in the United States saw a notable decline, with a total of 44,447 deaths, marking a 5% decrease from the previous year. This data, analyzed by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, indicates that the drop was primarily driven by a significant 16% reduction in firearm homicides, which totaled 15,364 deaths.

However, alongside this decline in homicides, firearm suicides surged to an unprecedented level, reaching 27,593 deaths. This alarming statistic accounts for approximately 62% of all firearm deaths that year.

For the fifth consecutive year, firearms remained the leading cause of death among children and teenagers aged 1 to 17, resulting in 2,214 fatalities in 2024. The report highlighted a demographic disparity, revealing that around 86% of firearm deaths were among men, though the rates of firearm-related incidents have been increasing among women, particularly Black women. Between 2015 and 2024, the firearm homicide rate among Black women escalated by 63%, in contrast to a mere 2% rise among white women. Additionally, firearm suicide rates among Black women soared by 169%, compared to a 4% increase for white women.

The report also noted increases in firearm homicide rates among Asian or Pacific Islander women (39%) and Hispanic or Latina women (31%), with corresponding increases in suicide rates of 57% and 51% respectively. Despite the overall decrease, firearm deaths remain approximately 9% below the peak observed during the pandemic in 2021, yet they still exceed pre-pandemic figures.