TEN MYTHS OF A SCHOOL SHOOTER

1. TEN MYTHS OF ASCHOOL SHOOTER Behavioral Traits& Warning Signs

2. TEN MYTHS OF ASCHOOL SHOOTER Myth One: They didn’t fit the profile

3. TEN MYTHS OF ASCHOOL SHOOTER Myth One: They didn’t fit the profile • There is no profile, except male.

4. TEN MYTHS OF ASCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Two: He just snapped

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

6. TEN MYTHS OF ASCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Three: No one knew

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

8. TEN MYTHS OF ASCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Four: He had yet to threaten anyone

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

10. TEN MYTHS OF ASCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Five: He was a loner

11. TEN MYTHS OF ASCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Five: He was a loner • Most of these shooters had plenty of friends, and some had girlfriends.

12. TEN MYTHS OF ASCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Six: He was crazy

13. TEN MYTHS OF ASCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Six: He was crazy • 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.

14. TEN MYTHS OF ASCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Seven: If only the police had arrived quicker

15. TEN MYTHS OF ASCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Seven: If only the police had arrived quicker • 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)

16. TEN MYTHS OF ASCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Eight: He never touched a gun

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

18. TEN MYTHS OF ASCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Nine: The School did everything they could

19. TEN MYTHS OF ASCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Nine: The School did everything they could • 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.

20. TEN MYTHS OF ASCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Ten: School Shootings are Rampant

21. TEN MYTHS OF ASCHOOL SHOOTER Myth Ten: School Shootings are Rampant • 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.

22. Behavioral Traits& Warning Signs • 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:

23. Parental Relationship • Turbulent

24. Parental Relationship • Turbulent • “Rules the Roost”

25. Parental Relationship • Turbulent • “Rules the Roost” • Manipulative

26. Household Demeanor • Granted inordinate amount of privacy.

27. Household Demeanor • Granted inordinate amount of privacy. • Locks on doors

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

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

30. School Demeanor • Academically performs

31. School Demeanor • Academically performs • Barriers with teachers

32. School Demeanor • Academically performs • Barriers with teachers • Exercises “code of silence”

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

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

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

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

37. Homicidal Triade • ?

38. Homicidal Triade • Sadistic to animals • Bed wetting beyond age six • Obsession with fire • NEW:

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

40. Violence • Making a statement or threat about killing or harming someone

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

42. Violence • 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

43. Violence • 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

44. Violence • 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.

45. Violence • 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

46. Violence • 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

47. Emotions • Low tolerance for Frustration: easily upset by real or perceived injustices

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

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

50. Emotions • 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