February 25, 2025 – The D&D Daily – retail’s leading digital news source for Loss Prevention, Asset Protection and Cybersecurity – released its industry-exclusive 2024 U.S. Retail Violent Fatalities Report, with support from ALTO.
Based on publicly reported data, the new report shows fatalities and violent incidents in retail dropped 29% from 2023, though incidents are still up 12% from 2017.
Overall, there were 438 fatal retail incidents last year, resulting in 482 deaths across the United States. Among those fatalities, 246 were customers, 122 were employees/associates, 96 were suspects, and 18 were law enforcement/security officers.
“After five straight years of rising retail fatalities, which became supercharged during the pandemic, 2023 hit a plateau. In 2024, we finally saw a major decline,” said Gordon Smith, the D&D Daily’s Crime and ORC Editor. “Industry efforts, as well as law enforcement initiatives and new legislation in states across the country, appear to be making a difference."
One alarming trend that has developed over the years is a shift in violence from parking lots to inside the stores. In 2024, 52% of fatal incidents occurred inside a store or mall, while 44% took place in parking lots. In 2017, just 37% of fatalities took place inside a retail setting, according to D&D Daily reporting.
“While the overall numbers are heading back in the right direction, it's definitely a troubling sign that more violence is moving into the stores,” Smith said.
2024 Retail Violent Fatalities Report: Key Takeaways
- 482 Retail Fatalities in 2024 – Down 29% from Last Year
- 80% of Deaths are Innocent Victims (Customers, Associates, LP/LE)
- 20% of Deaths are Suspects
- 52% of Fatalities Happen In-Store vs. 44% in Parking Lots
- C-Stores and Restaurants are Top Targets
- Weekends See the Most Deadly Incidents
- Los Angeles and Houston Logged the Most Fatalities
“Last year's decline in the number of fatal retail incidents is definitely a positive development for an industry that has become consumed with crime in recent years," said Smith. “But retail is still a top target for violence, and the industry — along with its law enforcement and lawmaking partners — must remain proactive in implementing measures to keep customers and associates safe, especially as more violence takes place inside the stores.”
Click here to see the full report.
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The D&D Daily is the #1 daily digital news source for the retail industry focused on retail trends, Loss Prevention, Asset Protection and Cybersecurity. Established in 2010, this free daily e-newsletter is designed to deliver the information, news, trends, retail crime data, technology developments, executive movement, and jobs every day. Using a 2-minute drill type format, this ‘#1 copy-paste tool’ allows retail executives to see what’s important, relevant and critical, share it throughout the organization quickly and easily, while saving the executives time and providing them with the information they need to reduce shrink, increase profitability and help make America’s retail stores safe. Visit www.D-Ddaily.net and sign up for your free email.
Reporting Methodology: The D&D Daily collects this retail store specific information from public news media sources throughout the United States and reports it daily in our Retail Crime column. We do not survey any retailers or third parties nor collect information from any retail executive. All of this information is available through public news media outlets. We do not claim nor does it represent all such incidents or deaths that may occur in retail locations or retail corporate facilities as many may not be reported in the news media depending on a number of variables outside of our control. We are not responsible for the accuracy of the information reported in the various news media outlets. We do not name any retailer, retail executive, suspect, or victim.
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