Firearm-Involved Homicide of Children Age 11 or Younger, 2014–2023

• NCJ Number: 309947
• Author(s): James T. Hubbell, PhD, Former BJS Statistician
• Date Published: May 2025
• Publication Type: Publication

Description

This Just the Stats report presents data on child homicides (i.e., murder or nonnegligent manslaughter of a victim age 11 or younger) and compares it with data on child homicides involving firearms.  

Highlights

• In 2023, the child homicide rate was 1.28 per 100,000 persons.
• The rate of child homicide involving a firearm remained steady between 2014 (0.30 per 100,000) and 2018 (0.28 per 100,000). From 2018 to 2022, this rate nearly doubled to 0.55 per 100,000 children. The rate was 0.46 per 100,000 children in 2023, which was not statistically different from the 2022 rate.
• From 2014 to 2023, the average annual percentage change in the child homicide rate was a decrease of 1.5%. For the rate of child homicide involving a firearm, however, the average annual percentage change was an increase of 4.2%.
• In 2023, 36% of child homicides involved firearms compared to 20% in 2014.