Key Questions Answered
Question: How common are murders and suicides in the United States?
A: Research has found that there are an average of 820 deaths from murder and suicide each year, which is higher than previous estimates.
Question: Who are the most victims and perpetrators?
A: Most perpetrators were white males, and more than half of the murder victims had current or former partners.
Question: What are the political implications?
A: The findings emphasize the need to strengthen interventions against domestic violence and restrict access to firearms.
Summary: New research suggests that murder and suicide are more common in the United States than previously thought. An average of 820 people die from these deaths each year. Most cases involve current or former partners, and nearly all suicides involve a firearm.
Fourteen percent of homicide victims were children. Rates vary considerably by state, with Alaska and Arizona reporting the highest per capita rates. The study emphasizes the urgent need for targeted prevention measures, particularly with regard to domestic violence and access to firearms.
Key data
- More than expected: An average of 820 deaths occur each year from murder and suicide.
- Domestic links:57% of victims were current or former partners.
- Weapons dominance: During these incidents, firearms were used in approximately 90 percent of suicides.
Source: Columbia University
The number of homicides and suicides in the United States is higher than previous estimates, according to a new study from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.
The study concluded that although homicide and suicide are relatively rare, they occur more frequently than previously documented, especially among current or former partners.
The results were published in JAMA Network Open, Psychiatry.
Murder-suicide refers to incidents in which a person commits one or more murders before taking their own life, usually within 24 hours.
Murder-suicides are acts of extreme violence that cause irreversible loss. They not only claim lives but also leave families and communities shattered. The consequences are always tragic and far-reaching. We felt it was important to provide a current assessment of how often these events occur in the United States, who is affected, and where they occur. This information is essential for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies,” said Dr. Catherine M. Keyes, of the Mailman School.
The researchers analyzed data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (a limited-access database), focusing on 30 U.S. states with complete data from 2016 to 2022. The incidents were based on police reports and other information indicating whether a suspected suicide occurred within a 24-hour period following one or more homicides.
During that period, a total of 5,743 homicide and suicide deaths were recorded, averaging about 820 deaths per year. Out of the total cases, 3,125 were classified as murders and 2,618 as suicides, with the majority of offenders belonging to the white population. Regionally, Alaska and Arizona recorded the highest rates of homicide and suicide, whereas Massachusetts and New Hampshire reported the lowest.
The data also showed that 14% of those killed were children under the age of 18. Most homicides occurred between partners: more than half (57%) of homicide victims were current or former partners of the perpetrator. Firearms were the primary weapon used in nearly all suicides, making them the most common means of death in such cases and highlighting their critical role in the overall suicide rate.
“Homicide and suicide rates vary considerably across states, highlighting the importance of tailoring prevention strategies to local circumstances, such as gun laws, mental health infrastructure, and domestic violence response systems,” Keys said.
“Given that the majority of victims had a close relationship with the perpetrator, strengthening domestic violence screening and intervention programs should be a top public health priority,” Keys said.
“And because approximately 90 percent of these incidents involve firearms, implementing and enforcing measures to restrict access to firearms, such as extreme risk protection orders, can be particularly effective in reducing these tragic outcomes.”
Co-authors are Victoria A. Joseph and Carolyn Rutherford of Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.
About this violence and psychology research news
Author: Stephanie Berger
Source: Columbia University
Contact: Stephanie Berger – Columbia University
Image: The image is credited to StackZone Neuro
Original Research: Open access.
“The Epidemiology of Murder-Suicide in the US, 2016-2022” by Katherine M. Keyes et al. JAMA Network Open: Psychiatry
Abstract
Epidemiology of homicides and suicides in the United States, 2016-2022
Murder-suicide occurs when a person commits one or more murders shortly before committing suicide.
Incidence in the US population is low. Previous studies indicate a stable population rate of approximately 0.2 to 0.3 per 100,000 inhabitants, although data from incidence after 2004 were not included.
Given the dynamic nature of suicide and homicide, it is important to assess rates, characteristics, and trends more timely to identify potential areas of prevention and intervention among at-risk individuals.
This study estimated the rates and characteristics of homicides and suicides in 30 US states from 2016 to 2022.
