Proportion of juveniles killed by a firearm, 1980-2010

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Working for Youth Justice and Safety

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Violent Crime Victimization

Q:	What proportion of juveniles are killed with a firearm?
A:	Half (50%) of all juveniles murdered in 2010 were killed with a firearm.

Year	Firearm		No Firearm

1980	41	%	59	%
1981	38		62
1982	39		61
1983	37		63
1984	37		63
1985	40		60
1986	37		63
1987	44		56
1988	48		52
1989	54		46
1990	55		45
1991	57		43
1992	61		39
1993	61		39
1994	60		40
1995	61		39
1996	55		45
1997	56		44
1998	48		52
1999	51		49
2000	47		53
2001	43		57
2002	48		52
2003	45		55
2004	48		52
2005	50		50
2006	53		47
2007	52		48
2008	50		50
2009	50		50
2010	49		51

[ Graph version ] [ Excel file ]

Older juveniles are more likely to be killed by a firearm than younger juveniles. Between 1980 and 2010, at least 3 of every 4 (78%) murder victims ages 15–17 were killed with a firearm, compared with 1 of every 10 (10%) murder victims ages 0–5.
In 2010, firearms were used in 14% of the murders of juveniles under age 12 but in 82% of the murders of juveniles ages 12–17.

Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/victims/qa02314.asp?qaDate=2010. Released on July 31, 2012.

Adapted from Puzzanchera, C. and Kang, W. (2012). Easy Access to the FBI's Supplementary Homicide Reports: 1980-2010. Available on-line at: http://ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/ezashr/.

Data Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation. Supplementary Homicide Reports for the years 1980–2010 [machine-readable data files]. Washington, D.C.: FBI.