"On Nov. 30, 11 people were shot, four fatally, at Oxford High School, about 45 miles north of Detroit. The crime scene investigation understandably closed the school for a week. Threats of copycat violence then closed the school again. Shooting threats typically increase after a high-profile school shooting because the public is on high alert … [Read more...]
School closures are costly caution — but are still not enough to prevent tragedies
Op-Ed: The powerful message behind charging the parents in the Michigan school shooting
"The latest school shooting tragedy, in Michigan on Nov. 30, shares many common traits with those that came before it. The suspect was a young male student at the school in the midst of a noticeable crisis. He had communicated intent to do harm. He got a firearm from a family member who had failed to store it securely. But one crucial thing is … [Read more...]
School shootings are at a record high this year – but they can be prevented
"Whenever a school shooting takes place like the one at Oxford High School in suburban Detroit on November 30, 2021, it is typically followed by a familiar chorus of questions. How could such a thing happen? Why doesn’t the government do more to stop these shootings from occurring? Those questions are even more urgent in light of the fact … [Read more...]
Communication of Intent to Do Harm Preceding Mass Public Shootings in the United States, 1966 to 2019
Key Points Question: What factors are associated with a mass shooting perpetrator’s decision to communicate their intent to do harm? Findings: This cross-sectional study of 170 perpetrators found that nearly half leaked their plans, with 44.3% of them leaking specific plans about a mass shooting. Leakage was associated with receiving counseling … [Read more...]
Students, teachers must feel safe to report school shooting threats
In Church Hill, Tennessee, a person claiming to be a bullied student, armed and ready to start shooting, called 911. Police raced to the scene. Schools across the district went into lockdown. Students fled school. Others hid inside classrooms. Distraught parents requested prayers. The threat was a hoax. There was no shooter or gun. Gun … [Read more...]