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A Look at Church Mass Shootings in the 21st Century

What We Can Learn from the Patterns of Attacks on Houses of Worship

     While mass shootings in houses of worship happen less frequently than other forms of gun violence, they do happen. Each attack sends fear throughout the congregation and religious communities across the country, and the feeling of safety in community sanctuaries is chipped away at. This blog covers recent incidents, patterns, motives, and prevention strategies to help understand and stop these tragedies.

Quick Facts

     There has been an increase in shootings at houses of worship in the United States over the past few decades, mostly occurring at churches, but also disproportionately impacting other faiths.

• Shootings at houses of worship in the US are often driven by hatred towards the religious, ethnic, or racial group that dominates the targeted congregation, or a domestic conflict between the attacker and a member of the religious institution.

• Many small churches have no security, and some rely on armed congregants for security.

A Look at Church Mass Shootings in the 21st Century

     The past few decades have seen a rise in shootings in houses of worship, predominantly in Christian churches (up to 94% of attacks), which make up the majority of religious institutions in the United States.

     According to the Violence Prevention Project, between 2000 and 2025, there were 246 shooting events at houses of worship, with 402 victim’s total. 307 people were killed in these shootings. These incidents ranged from disputes that escalated into violence to intentional or planned attacks and mass shootings. This blog examines how different definitions for “mass shootings” can have an impact on how these attacks are counted: The strictest definition counts 10 mass shootings in the past 25 years, whereas other definitions count 40. 

     2023 had the most incidents of violence at houses of worship on record so far, followed by 2022 and 2019, according to the Violence Prevention Project.

     There has been an increase in church shootings over the last 20 years, with some years having more or fewer shootings than others. Noticeable spikes occurred in 2006, 2012, 2019, and from 2021 to 2023. 

     Understanding the scope of church shootings and shootings at houses of worship is essential for developing responses. 

Impacts of Shootings on Different Faiths

     Christian church shootings make up the most shootings at houses of worship in the United States - but other faiths are not immune. For example, the 2012 shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin and the recent attacks against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints show that all faith communities are vulnerable to ideologically motivated violence. 

     Between 2014 and 2018, attacks on and violence in houses of worship increased by 34.8%, specifically amongst churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques. Additionally, some attacks are also motivated by racism. Attacks against those profiled to be Muslim (regardless of their actual religion) increased following 9/11 with the rise in islamophobia, and predominantly Black churches have been the target of white-supremacist violence.

     The victims of this violence are pastors, rabbis, imams, monks, congregants, staff, and children. Recognizing the impact gun violence has on different faiths means we need to be more inclusive in how we protect all places of worship.

Notable Shootings at Houses of Worship such as the following: (There are More)

·        Grand Blanc Township LDS Chapel (2025)

o   In September of this year, a lone attacker, likely motivated by anti-Mormon hatred, drove into a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, during Sunday services. He then shot into the church and set it on fire. 4 people were killed and at least 9 others were injured. The police response was quick and the shooter was neutralized before more harm was done. 

·        Lexington shooter (2025)

·        Lakewood Church shooter (2024): 

·        Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church (2022)

In June 2022, 3 were killed during a potluck dinner at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Vestavia Hills, Alabama. A congregant attending the event intervened and subdued the gunman.          The shooter was in his 70s, making him an outlier in the age demographics of most mass shooters in the United States.

·        Tree of Life Synagogue (2018)

The 2018 shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was one of the deadliest anti-Semitic attacks in U.S. history. The gunman opened fire, killing 11 worshippers and injuring 6 others during Saturday morning services. The incident highlighted the threat of ideologically motivated violence against minority religious communities in America.

·        First Baptist Church (2017)

One of the worst church shootings in U.S. history was at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, in 2017. A gunman opened fire during Sunday services, killing 26 people and injuring at least 20 others, seemingly motivated by a domestic conflict with a relative who attended the church. The shooter had a history of violence and was even court-martialed while in the Air Force for an attack on his then-wife; however, the Air Force did not properly document the conviction in the federal crime database, enabling his purchase of the weapons. 

·        Sutherland Springs church shooter (2017)

·        Emanuel AME Church (2015)

A 2015 mass shooting during a bible study at the historically-Black Emanuel AME (African Methodist Episcopal) Church in Charleston, South Carolina, left 9 people dead. The attacker, a self-avowed white supremacist who targeted the congregation in this hate crime, was sentenced to death. Former friends of the shooter later claimed that he had once spewed racist rhetoric while intoxicated and made vague threats. Nobody had taken him seriously—an eerie reminder that many perpetrators raise red flags before their attack, and often they are ignored. 

·        Living Church of God (2005)

In 2005, a former church member shot and killed 7 members of the Living Church of God in Brookfield, Wisconsin, before taking his own life. The community was shocked because the attack was unexpected, coming from the quiet man they’d known, and the police struggled long to find a motive for the attack.

Patterns and Trends in Church Attacks

*Unless indicated otherwise, the data in this section is from the Violence Prevention Project Research Center’s House of Worship Homicides database, with the “Weapons Used” filter highlighting incidents with firearms, handguns, and shotguns for the 2000-2024 period.

     Looking at shootings at houses of worship over the past two decades reveals some patterns. These include commonalities in the shooters’ motivations, demographics, and backgrounds, as well as trends in the time and place of shootings.

     While Christian churches are the primary target of this violence in America, Jewish and Muslim houses of worship are also vulnerable, with several incidents at synagogues and mosques in recent years. They are disproportionately affected, given their lower presence in the U.S. Knowing these patterns is key to developing effective prevention strategies and keeping all faith communities safe.

Preventing Future Attacks on Houses of Worship

     A study found that most protestant churches in America lack any security measures, like armed private security personnel, metal detectors, radio communication, or active shooter plans.    The same study found that 54% of pastors include or rely on armed congregants for security. Security can be more difficult for smaller churches, but attacks in rural communities (which account for up to 22% of all house of worship shootings) underscore how important it is that security is prioritized.

Take Action

     Shootings in houses of worship, while rare, have impacted religious communities around the country. By looking at patterns, key incidents, and the impacts they have on different faiths, we can get a better understanding of these tragedies. Their complexity requires a multifaceted solution. 

     Prevention and response measures, including law enforcement collaboration, safety protocols for houses of worship, and community support systems, are key to protecting congregations. By learning from past incidents and embracing technology, we can keep our houses of worship safe and secure places of worship and community.