Murder-suicide events more common than previously estimated
The incidence of murder-suicide in the United States is higher than earlier estimates suggest, according to new research from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. The study reveals that while murder-suicide events remain relatively rare, they are occurring more frequently than previously documented—particularly among current or former intimate partners. The findings are published in JAMA Network Open.
Murder-suicide events are defined as incidents in which an individual commits one or more homicides before taking their own life, typically within a 24-hour period.
Lead author Katherine M. Keyes, Ph.D., professor of Epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School, stated, “Murder-suicide events involve a high level of violence with tragic consequences. We felt it was crucial to provide an updated assessment of how often these events occur in the United States, who is affected, and where they are happening. This information is vital for guiding effective prevention and intervention strategies.”
The researchers analyzed data from the National Violent Death Reporting System in 30 U.S. states from 2016 to 2022. They identified 5,743 deaths linked to murder-suicide occurrences during this period—an average of 820 deaths annually. Most perpetrators were white males.
Geographically, murder-suicide rates were highest in Alaska and Arizona, and lowest in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
The data also revealed that children under 18 accounted for 14% of those killed. The majority of homicides occurred between romantic partners, with over half of homicide victims being current or former intimate partners of the perpetrator. Nearly all suicides involved a firearm as the primary weapon.
“There is substantial variation in murder-suicide rates by state, which underscores the importance of tailoring prevention strategies to local conditions—such as gun legislation, mental health infrastructure, and domestic violence response systems,” said Keyes.
Keyes emphasized the need for strengthening domestic violence screening and intervention programs as a top public health priority. With nearly 90% of murder-suicide events involving firearms, implementing and enforcing policies to restrict firearm access, such as extreme risk protection orders, may be especially effective in reducing these tragic outcomes.
Co-authors of the study are Victoria A. Joseph and Caroline Rutherford from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
For more information, the study titled “The Epidemiology of Murder-Suicide in the US, 2016-2022” can be found in JAMA Network Open. It is recommended to visit the Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health website for additional details.
Citation:
Hidden violence: Murder-suicide events more common than previously estimated (2025, August 1)
Retrieved 4 August 2025 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-hidden-violence-suicide-events-common.html
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