![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Aracruz_attack%252C_firing.jpg/640px-Aracruz_attack%252C_firing.jpg&w=640&q=50)
School shooting
Event in which gun violence happens at a school / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A school shooting is an armed attack at an educational institution, such as a primary school, secondary school, high school or university, involving the use of a firearm. Many school shootings are also categorized as mass shootings due to multiple casualties.[1][2] The phenomenon is most widespread in the United States, which has the highest number of school-related shootings,[3][4] although school shootings have taken place elsewhere in the world.
![The perpetrator of the 2022 Aracruz school shootings, who killed four people before being apprehended](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Aracruz_attack%2C_firing.jpg/640px-Aracruz_attack%2C_firing.jpg)
According to studies, factors behind school shooting include easy access to firearms, family dysfunction, lack of family supervision, and mental illness among many other psychological issues.[5] Among the topmost motives of attackers were: bullying/persecution/threatened (75%) and revenge (61%), while 54% reported having numerous reasons. The remaining motives included an attempt to solve a problem (34%), suicide or depression (27%), and seeking attention or recognition (24%).[6]
Especially in the United States, school shootings have sparked a political debate over gun violence, zero tolerance policies, gun rights and gun control.