The pathway to violence and public mass shooters in mental health treatment before attacks

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to provide mental health practitioners with a framework for conceptualizing individuals who may be at risk of targeted violence, mass shootings in particular. Design/methodology/approach Through the lens of the Path to Intended Violence model, a non-experimental descriptive design was chosen to explore the characteristics and behaviors of perpetrators who had engaged in mental health treatment within six months before their attacks. Findings The perpetrators in this study demonstrated behaviors included in each of the stages of the Path to Intended Violence model. Thus, it may be important for practitioners to be familiar with this model, especially the earlier stages, to potentially identify and intervene with individuals who may be at risk of committing mass violence. Originality/value This paper highlights how the Path to Intended Violence model can provide practitioners with a framework for identifying progressive warning signs in patients and how to take action to stop them from continuing their journey toward violence.

Mass Outcome or Mass Intent?: A Proposal for an Intent-Focused, No-Minimum Casualty Count Definition of Public Mass Shootings

“…Specifically, we encourage readers to use observable behavioral indicators before the public mass shooting and during the incident to assign an intent rating score to each individual incident. Prior research has documented a wide variety of discrete public mass shooter behaviors and characteristics relevant to planning, preparation, and perpetration (Clemmow et al, 2022;Cowan & Cole, 2022;Fox & Levin, 1994;Newman et al, 2004;O'Toole, 2000), including bringing spare guns and ammunition, leakage, wearing a costume to invoke fear or mimic violent role models, aiming and firing at victims and witnesses, having a targeted or symbolic grievance against the location, stockpiling guns and ammunition, or training to shoot. Importantly, these indicators are readily observable to guardians and handlers (Felson, 1995) surrounding the perpetrator and to witnesses and survivors at the crime scene.…”

Mass Outcome or Mass Intent? A Proposal for an Intent-Focused, No-Minimum Casualty Count Definition of Public Mass Shooting Incidents

“…Specifically, we encourage readers to use observable behavioral indicators before the public mass shooting and during the incident to assign an intent rating score to each individual incident. Prior research has documented a wide variety of discrete public mass shooter behaviors and characteristics relevant to planning, preparation, and perpetration (Clemmow et al, 2022;Cowan & Cole, 2022;Fox & Levin, 1994;Newman et al, 2004;O'Toole, 2000), including bringing spare guns and ammunition, leakage, wearing a costume to invoke fear or mimic violent role models, aiming and firing at victims and witnesses, having a targeted or symbolic grievance against the location, stockpiling guns and ammunition, or training to shoot. Importantly, these indicators are readily observable to guardians and handlers (Felson, 1995) surrounding the perpetrator and to witnesses and survivors at the crime scene.…”