A newly released report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation has identified the mass shooting at the Mad Butcher supermarket in Fordyce, Arkansas, as the deadliest active shooter incident in the United States in 2024.
The tragic event unfolded on June 21, 2024, when a gunman opened fire at the local grocery store, leaving a total of 14 people shot — four of whom died and 10 others who were wounded.
Those killed in the attack were:
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Shirley Taylor, 62
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Callie Weems, 23
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Roy Sturgis, 50
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Ellen Shrum, 81
The report, titled “Active Shooter Incidents in the United States 2024”, was produced in collaboration between the FBI and the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University. It lists a total of 24 active shooter incidents nationwide in 2024 — a 50% decrease from the 48 incidents recorded in 2023.
Alongside the drop in incidents, the report also notes a decrease in casualties. In 2024, there were 106 total casualties, including 23 fatalities and 83 injuries, compared to 224 casualties in 2023 (105 killed and 139 wounded).
The Fordyce shooting stood out not only for having the highest number of total victims — 14 in total — but also for being classified as a mass killing, defined by the murder of more than three individuals.
The suspect in the Fordyce shooting, Travis Posey, was arrested at the scene and has since been charged with four counts of capital murder and 11 counts of attempted murder. He has entered a plea of not guilty.
The FBI defines an “active shooter incident” as one in which an individual is actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area, with the term “active” implying that a law enforcement response could influence the outcome.
States where active shooter incidents occurred in 2024 include Texas, California, North Carolina, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
In response to the ongoing threat of such violence, the FBI continues to emphasize preparedness and public awareness, encouraging citizens to follow the “Run, Hide, Fight” strategy in the event of an active shooter situation.
The full report can be accessed on the FBI’s website: FBI 2024 Active Shooter Report.
