Buzz
Years prior to the tragic incident, the Thousand Oaks shooter reportedly attacked his track coach, who was urged to remain silent. Similarly, the Florida high school shooter was said to have harassed, threatened, and stalked acquaintances. The Las Vegas shooter allegedly publicly verbally abused his girlfriend. While predicting who might become the next mass shooter is uncertain, recurring patterns of warning signs have been identified.
Earlier this year, the FBI published a report detailing the 'pre-attack behaviors' of mass shooters, as reported by Quartz. The findings revealed that 63 percent of the shooters were white, mirroring the demographic makeup of the US population, and 94 percent were male. The FBI concluded in the report:
The findings paint a complex and alarming picture of individuals who struggle to cope with multiple life stressors while exhibiting four to five noticeable concerning behaviors, engaging in planning and preparation, and often making threats or revealing intentions to carry out an attack.
Detecting these warning signs requires a collective effort. Common red flags include various forms of abuse, harassment, bullying, and violence, among others. Some of the key indicators to watch for are:
Threats or hostile encounters (35 percent of shooters)
Acts of physical violence (33 percent)
Expressions of anger that alarm those around them (33 percent)
Domestic violence (16 percent of shooters) and stalking behavior (11 percent)
Thoughts of suicide (48 percent)
Disturbing interpersonal conduct (57 percent)
Misuse of firearms (21 percent)
The majority of shooters spend at least a week planning their attacks and frequently disclose their intentions to friends or family. Unfortunately, these concerns are often not reported, which is particularly devastating since those closest to the shooter are often among the intended victims.
If you suspect someone close to you may be planning an act of terrorism or criminal behavior, you can submit a tip to the FBI online here.
In 13 states (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington), 'red flag' laws permit the removal of firearms from individuals deemed at high risk of violent behavior, including domestic violence and other scenarios beyond mass shootings. Three additional states are currently considering similar legislation.
