Over the last decade, most people have been made acutely aware of the sharp increase in the amount mass shootings and their lethality in the US. By nature, these attacks can occur without obvious warning signs and are often perpetrated at work and school by the employees and students themselves. Many individuals and organizations remain unprepared to deal with these threats and don’t know what specific signs potential mass shooters exhibit.

While these traits by themselves are not necessarily indications of a potential shooter, a combination of these factors clearly exhibited in an individual may be a cause for concern. Many of you will recognize that these factors, such as suicidal thoughts and feelings of isolation, are not something that can be easily observed in an individual. This is why getting to know the mental states of the people in your community, school, or work environment is absolutely crucial. Any effective security program will always make an effort to integrate into the community, be personable with individuals, and take these warning signs into account.

Any mass shooter prevention plan has to revolve around keeping a pulse on the individuals within the group, and that starts by being able to recognize the following traits:

1. Most mass shooters are insiders at their workplace, university, or school. In fact, 91% are employees, 89% are college/university students, and 85% are K-12 students. The overwhelming majority are motivated by grievances that are often directed at specific individuals within the community. Recent life crises play a major role in shooting motivation, but fame-seeking is also an increasing reason, as many shooters who want to gain attention and make a statement know that they will garner significant media attention. Sadly, there is still a perception that a mass shooter is a purely external threat, which leads businesses and schools to focus their resources on strangers rather than their own community members.

2. 80% of mass shooters were in a notable crisis prior to their mass shooting.

This life crisis can take place days, weeks, months, or even years before the shooting is committed. These crises are often unresolved and cause crisis signs such as increased agitation, abusive behavior, feelings of isolation, losing touch with reality, depressed moods or mood swings, and an inability to perform daily tasks. Over 80% of mass shooters exhibit one or more of these signs, and almost 38% show 5 or more of these signs. Increased agitation is the most common sign, with 67% of mass shooters showing increased agitation shortly before their mass shooting. An employee or student who is uncharacteristically showing one or more of these signs may be a cause for concern if their life crisis is unresolved.

3. Many mass shooters feel isolated and are suicidal before, during, and after the crime is committed.

While most mass shooters don’t exhibit signs of psychosis, they are often suicidal, with 31% being suicidal before their mass shooting. Many view their mass shooting as a final exit while being able to get back at the people who, in their view, wronged them. In addition, it’s common for mass shooters to feel isolated, believing that the whole world is against them, which can motivate them to take action.

At HCCI, one of our core strategies is community integration. We recognize that effective and professional security services need to account for not just external threats, but internal ones too. By taking steps to get to know community members, our security professionals are better able to detect and respond to internal disturbances, helping to prevent mass shootings and other crimes. This is just one of the many ways HCCI provides superior and professional security services.

Reach out to HCCI if you want to explore extended security options.

Ref: https://www.theviolenceproject.org/key-findings/

HCCI Professional Protective Services LLC

262 Havana St. Ste 222 Aurora, CO 80010

Phone: (720) 476-0312 Fax: 720-912-4224