TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Behavioral Traits

TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Behavioral Traits & Warning Signs

TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Myth One: They didn’t fit the profile

TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Myth One: They didn’t fit the profile n There is no profile, except male.

TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Two: He just snapped

TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Two: He just snapped n These crimes are planned for months, and Columbine was planned for a year and a half.

TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Three: No one knew

TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Three: No one knew n These shooters will most likely tell someone. Over 80% of school shooters told one person, 50% told two or more.

TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Four: He had yet to threaten anyone

TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Four: He had yet to threaten anyone n These kids usually do not make a direct threat, but more of an indirect plan of attack.

TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Five: He was a loner

TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Five: He was a loner n Most of these shooters had plenty of friends, and some had girlfriends.

TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Six: He was crazy

TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Six: He was crazy n Less than 10% of these shooters are mentally ill, and most were not involved in substance abuse. On the flip side, most were depressed and suicidal.

TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Seven: If only the police had arrived quicker

TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Seven: If only the police had arrived quicker n Most school shootings are over in minutes, and it should take police officers 3 -5 minutes to show up and enter the building safely. Kip Kinkel shot 50 rounds and emptied his gun in under three minutes, well before police could show up. (Kip, suspended the day before, facing expulsion. Oregon, 1998)

TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Eight: He never touched a gun

TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Eight: He never touched a gun n Most of these shooters have access to deadly weapons, and many had shot guns themselves.

TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Nine: The School did everything they could

TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Nine: The School did everything they could n n Most schools are not doing enough to help potential school shooters: not taking bullying seriously not spending enough money on school security and violence prevention If a school does not have a Police Officer in the school, is not using an anonymous tip line, and does not have a zero tolerance to bullying, they are not doing everything they could be doing, and their students are vulnerable to a violent attack.

TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Ten: School Shootings are Rampant

TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Ten: School Shootings are Rampant n Although school shootings are a rare occurrence, school violence and bullying are present, and there is always the chance of an attack. I believe the reason there are not more school shootings is the increased proactive measures of law enforcement and school administrators.

Behavioral Traits & Warning Signs n Although no “one” profile exists for students who commit school violence, common characteristics have been identified that most of the perpetrators have shown. Below is a short list of possible clues which will help us identify at-risk kids. Let us know if you observe several of these traits in one student:

Parental Relationship n Turbulent

Parental Relationship n Turbulent n “Rules the Roost”

Parental Relationship n Turbulent n “Rules the Roost” n Manipulative

Household Demeanor n Granted inordinate amount of privacy.

Household Demeanor n Granted inordinate amount of privacy. n Locks on doors

Household Demeanor n Granted inordinate amount of privacy. n Locks on doors n Excessive internet access

Household Demeanor n Granted inordinate amount of privacy. n Locks on doors n Excessive internet access n Excessive video and e-game usage

School Demeanor n Academically performs

School Demeanor n n Academically performs Barriers with teachers

School Demeanor n n n Academically performs Barriers with teachers Exercises “code of silence”

School Demeanor n n Academically performs Barriers with teachers Exercises “code of silence” Demonstrated notice of others “prestige”

School Demeanor n n n Academically performs Barriers with teachers Exercises “code of silence” Demonstrated notice of others “prestige” Unresolved bullying

School Demeanor n n n Academically performs Barriers with teachers Exercises “code of silence” Demonstrated notice of others “prestige” Unresolved bullying Absent “team” activities

School Demeanor n n n n Academically performs Barriers with teachers Exercises “code of silence” Demonstrated notice of others “prestige” Unresolved bullying Absent “team” activities Recently Suspended or facing Expulsion

Homicidal Triade n ?

Homicidal Triade n Sadistic to animals n Bed wetting beyond age six n Obsession with fire n NEW:

Homicidal Triade n Sadistic to animals n Bed wetting beyond age six n Obsession with fire n NEW: Peeping Tom

Violence n Making a statement or threat about killing or harming someone

Violence n n Making a statement or threat about killing or harming someone Violent or threatening schoolwork, artwork, drawings, class projects, & Social Media

Violence n n n Making a statement or threat about killing or harming someone Violent or threatening schoolwork, artwork, drawings, class projects, & Social Media Fascination with guns, knives, swords, bombs, and other deadly weapons

Violence n n Making a statement or threat about killing or harming someone Violent or threatening schoolwork, artwork, drawings, class projects, & Social Media Fascination with guns, knives, swords, bombs, and other deadly weapons Obsession with violent video games, violent music, violent movies, & violent porn

Violence n n n Making a statement or threat about killing or harming someone Violent or threatening schoolwork, artwork, drawings, class projects, & Social Media Fascination with guns, knives, swords, bombs, and other deadly weapons Obsession with violent video games, violent music, violent movies, & violent porn Fascination with other school shootings, especially Columbine.

Violence n n n Making a statement or threat about killing or harming someone Violent or threatening schoolwork, artwork, drawings, class projects, & Social Media Fascination with guns, knives, swords, bombs, and other deadly weapons Obsession with violent video games, violent music, violent movies, & violent porn Fascination with other school shootings, especially Columbine. Fascination with other violent or hateful books, as well as serial killer type books

Violence n n n n Making a statement or threat about killing or harming someone Violent or threatening schoolwork, artwork, drawings, class projects, & Social Media Fascination with guns, knives, swords, bombs, and other deadly weapons Obsession with violent video games, violent music, violent movies, & violent porn Fascination with other school shootings, especially Columbine. Fascination with other violent or hateful books, as well as serial killer type books They may harm themselves and take part in self-abuse, like cutting their arms, victim of abuse

Emotions n Low tolerance for Frustration: easily upset by real or perceived injustices

Emotions n n Low tolerance for Frustration: easily upset by real or perceived injustices Poor coping Skills: inappropriate, immature, disproportionate

Emotions n n n Low tolerance for Frustration: easily upset by real or perceived injustices Poor coping Skills: inappropriate, immature, disproportionate Lack of Resiliency: can’t bounce back

Emotions n n Low tolerance for Frustration: easily upset by real or perceived injustices Poor coping Skills: inappropriate, immature, disproportionate Lack of Resiliency: can’t bounce back Failed love relationship: especially if recent

Emotions n n n Low tolerance for Frustration: easily upset by real or perceived injustices Poor coping Skills: inappropriate, immature, disproportionate Lack of Resiliency: can’t bounce back Failed love relationship: especially if recent Injustice Collector: does not forgive/forget

Emotions n n n Low tolerance for Frustration: easily upset by real or perceived injustices Poor coping Skills: inappropriate, immature, disproportionate Lack of Resiliency: can’t bounce back Failed love relationship: especially if recent Injustice Collector: does not forgive/forget Depression: Lethargy, loss of interest in activities, dark outlook on life

Emotions n n n n Low tolerance for Frustration: easily upset by real or perceived injustices Poor coping Skills: inappropriate, immature, disproportionate Lack of Resiliency: can’t bounce back Failed love relationship: especially if recent Injustice Collector: does not forgive/forget Depression: Lethargy, loss of interest in activities, dark outlook on life Alienation: isolation, not belonging

Emotions n n n n Low tolerance for Frustration: easily upset by real or perceived injustices Poor coping Skills: inappropriate, immature, disproportionate Lack of Resiliency: can’t bounce back Failed love relationship: especially if recent Injustice Collector: does not forgive/forget Depression: Lethargy, loss of interest in activities, dark outlook on life Alienation: isolation, not belonging, rejection Anger Management: uncontrolled, unpredictable

Perceptions n Entitlement/superior: “always me” attitude, demands specialized treatment

Perceptions n n Entitlement/superior: “always me” attitude, demands specialized treatment Need for attention: positive or negative attention

Perceptions n n n Entitlement/superior: “always me” attitude, demands specialized treatment Need for attention: positive or negative attention Blameless: never accepts responsibility, always someone else’s fault

Perceptions n n Entitlement/superior: “always me” attitude, demands specialized treatment Need for attention: positive or negative attention Blameless: never accepts responsibility, always someone else’s fault Intolerance: racial or religious

Perceptions n n n Entitlement/superior: “always me” attitude, demands specialized treatment Need for attention: positive or negative attention Blameless: never accepts responsibility, always someone else’s fault Intolerance: racial or religious Manipulative: cons and manipulates others

Perceptions n n n Entitlement/superior: “always me” attitude, demands specialized treatment Need for attention: positive or negative attention Blameless: never accepts responsibility, always someone else’s fault Intolerance: racial or religious Manipulative: cons and manipulates others Lack of trust: Society is worthless

Perceptions Entitlement/superior: “always me” attitude, demands specialized treatment n Need for attention: positive or negative attention n Blameless: never accepts responsibility, always someone else’s fault n Intolerance: racial or religious n Manipulative: cons and manipulates others n Lack of trust: Society is worthless n “Change”: dramatically over a short period of time (dress, behavior, grades) n

Perceptions Entitlement/superior: “always me” attitude, demands specialized treatment, others are inferior n Need for attention: positive or negative attention n Blameless: never accepts responsibility, always someone else’s fault n Intolerance: racial or religious n Manipulative: cons and manipulates others n Lack of trust: Society is worthless n “Change”: dramatically over a short period of time (dress, behavior, grades) n Dehumanizes others: non-person outlook, lack of empathy n

Dr. Hare’s List n Hare Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL: YV) is a 20 -item rating scale for the assessment of psychopathic traits in male and female offenders aged 12 to 18. (2 lists of 10 criteria each) n n n COLUMBINE by Dave Cullen New York Times Bestseller Edgar Award

Dr. Hare’s List (2 Lists) n n n Eric Harris (Columbine) bragged and wrote about 9 of the following 10 indicators: Gratuitous Lying No remorse or guilt Defiance Unresponsive to disciple Theft Persistent aggression Cutting classes / Curfew Cruelty to animals** Early sex (young age) Vandalism / fires

Questions? Thank you