Guns remained leading cause of death for ages 11-18 in 2022
Oct 9, 2025, 2:11 PM | Updated: 2:13 pm
Students, teachers and others participate in a rally outside of the Williamsburg Charter High School in New York City. (Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images)
(Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images)
Gun-related deaths rose dramatically among youth, Washington State University (WSU) researchers found through a recent study.
From 2017 to 2022, guns surpassed car crashes as the leading cause of death for 11- to 18-year-olds in the U.S.—spiking from 1,945 in 2001 to 3,224 in 2022, according to the data.
WSU’s study focused specifically on middle and high school ages, rather than lumping all youth together as is commonly done.
“While that data was interesting and informative, high schoolers are very different from toddlers,” Elizabeth Weybright, associate professor and adolescent extension specialist in WSU’s Department of Human Development, and the paper’s corresponding author, stated via a post by WSU. “When data for children and adolescents is combined, we’re missing key information that can help us prevent firearm injury and death. It seems practical to focus on middle school and high school adolescents and where they live.”
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Gun-related deaths surge among rural and urban high schoolers
The data also showed that guns are the leading cause of death for urban high schoolers, surging 127% from a low in 2013, while car crashes remained the leading cause of death for rural high schoolers.
However, gun homicides among rural high schoolers have increased by more than 362% since 2001, though suicide remained the leading cause of gun deaths for both middle and high school students.
“Across rural and urban settings, we’re seeing quite an increase in firearm-related homicides for high schoolers,” Weybright stated. “These findings contribute significantly to our knowledge of what’s actually happening.”
Researchers recommended revisiting gun safety practices with children and taking a more comprehensive approach with rural communities.
“We talk a lot about youth suicide risk in rural areas and less about the risk for homicide,” Weybright stated. “This study highlights that we need interventions for both.”
Weybright is hopeful grant funding will help researchers continue their work on creating effective messaging to inform youth and families on gun violence.
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