Articles

The Violence Project: How to stop a mass shooting epidemic

Within this news report, Dr. Jillian Peterson discusses her work and book "The Violence Project: How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic" after the Highland Park shooting. Watch here. Source: WGN News Chicago

Jul 6, 2022

This article is more than 1 month old US mass shootings are getting deadlier and more common, analysis shows

"Our analysis is based on data from the Violence Project, a nonprofit research group that uses a narrow definition of mass shootings adopted from the congressional research service, which advises federal lawmakers. Thirty-one of these massacres occurred from 2017 through 2021, compared with 24 from 2012 through 2016, according to the Violence Project data. We… Read More »

Jul 6, 2022

Research Identifies Common Profiles for Mass Shooters

"It shouldn’t shock you that the suspect in Monday’s mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade in a Chicago suburb was a young white man, Mehdi says. That description falls right in line with a recent pattern seen in cities across the U.S. Dr. Jillian Peterson, the researcher who’s work reveals those commonalities, joins… Read More »

Jul 6, 2022

July 4 Shooting – Blood, Carnage, Horrific

"Police say Monday's holiday mass shooting had been planned for weeks. Seven people died and dozens were injured as Robert Crimo III fired as many as 70 rounds into the crowd from a Highland Park rooftop. The shooter accessed the roof via a fire escape ladder, then fled the scene wearing women’s clothing. An AR-15-type… Read More »

Jul 6, 2022

What You Need to Know About the Rise in U.S. Mass Shootings

"Our analysis is based on data from The Violence Project, a nonprofit research group that uses a narrow definition of mass shootings adopted from the Congressional Research Service, which advises federal lawmakers. Thirty-one of these massacres occurred from 2017 through 2021, compared with 24 from 2012 through 2016, according to The Violence Project data. We… Read More »

Jul 6, 2022

Transcript: Dr. Jillian Peterson and Dr. James Densley on "Face the Nation," June 12, 2022

The following is a transcript and video recording of Jillian Peterson and James Densley on Face the Nation. In this interview, they discuss their research on mass shooters, what they found with crisis intervention, how this applies to schools and gun ownership, and much more. Read and watch here. Author: Face the Nation Source: CBS… Read More »

Jun 12, 2022

We Need Hope to Combat Violence. That Won’t Arrive Without Action.

"What might have stopped the gunman from killing 21 people in Uvalde, Texas? In the aftermath of the shootings, familiar details emerged. We know he fought with his mother. We know he has been accused of posting footage of himself seriously abusing one or more cats online. We know he shot his grandmother, who worked… Read More »

Jun 9, 2022

The Mass Shootings Where Stricter Gun Laws Might Have Made a Difference

"If the key gun control proposals now being considered in Congress had been law since 1999, four gunmen younger than 21 would have been blocked from legally buying the rifles they used in mass shootings. At least four other assailants would have been subject to a required background check, instead of slipping through a loophole…. Read More »

Jun 4, 2022

Young men, guns and the prefrontal cortex

"Peterson is a criminologist who studies the life histories of mass shooters, and when she has gone back decades later to interview perpetrators who committed an attack in their teens or early 20s, “they don’t even recognize the person that did that.” She said the perpetrators describe feeling “disconnected” from their murderous earlier selves." Within… Read More »

Jun 3, 2022

What drives mass shooters? Grievance, despair, and anger are more likely triggers than mental illness, experts say.

"Forensic psychologist Jillian Peterson, cofounder of The Violence Project, a think tank dedicated to reducing violence, said mass shooters are typically younger men, channeling their pain and anger through acts of violence and aggression. For many mass shooters, Peterson said, their path to violence begins with early childhood trauma. They often share a sense of… Read More »

Jun 3, 2022

A Disturbing New Pattern in Mass Shootings: Young Assailants

"Six of the nine deadliest mass shootings in the United States since 2018 were by people who were 21 or younger, representing a shift for mass casualty shootings, which before 2000 were most often initiated by men in their mid-20s, 30s and 40s. “We see two clusters when it comes to mass shooters, people in… Read More »

Jun 2, 2022

The 'Good Guys With Guns' Keep Failing to Stop Mass Shootings

"Research disputes recent assertions from Cruz and others that armed law enforcement on campus is “the most effective tool for keeping kids safe.” A 2021 JAMA Network Open study analyzed every documented incident from 1980-2019 in which “one or more people was intentionally shot in a school building during the school day, or where a… Read More »

May 31, 2022

A researcher who studies mass shootings explains why an armed security guard would likely not deter a school shooter

Jillian Peterson joins The Lead to discuss why armed security guards will most likely not stop a school shooter. Watch here. Interviewer: Jake Tapper Source: CNN

May 31, 2022

What Makes a Mass Shooter?

"In America, unthinkable violence has become routine. In the wake of mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas, David Remnick speaks with the researchers Jillian Peterson and James Densley, whose book, “The Violence Project,” is the most in-depth study of mass shooters to date. Pro-gun politicians may continue to block any measures to… Read More »

May 31, 2022

2 professors, tracking patterns, try to predict who might carry out a mass shooting

NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with James Densley, a professor at Metropolitan State University in Minnesota, about the lessons he learned from studying a database of mass shooters. Listen or read here. Author: Leila Fadel Source: NPR

May 30, 2022

How Society Can Stop Mass Shooters

The following video is an interview about how society can support the end to mass shootings and gun violence. Watch here. Author: Michael Smerconish Source: CNN

May 28, 2022

Two Professors Found What Creates a Mass Shooter. Will Politicians Pay Attention?

"Their findings, also published in the 2021 book, The Violence Project: How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic, reveal striking commonalities among the perpetrators of mass shootings and suggest a data-backed, mental health-based approach could identify and address the next mass shooter before he pulls the trigger — if only politicians are willing to actually… Read More »

May 27, 2022

2 mass shootings — 1,700 miles apart but bound by startling similarities

"Though the motivations in these particular cases likely differ, the suspects of these shootings, and others like it, have a lot in common, according to James Densley and Jillian Peterson, co-founders of The Violence Project. Their research organization studies gun violence, mass shootings and violent extremism. "Usually what's motivating these shootings is a element of… Read More »

May 27, 2022

Mass violence takes toll on Americans’ psyches

Despite their low frequency in comparison to other gun violence, the authors in this piece discuss the way mass shootings have degraded the sense of safety Americans feel in their communities. Read more here. Authors: Lenny Bernstein, Ariana Eunjung Cha, and Joel Achenbach Source: The Washington Post

May 26, 2022

What Do We Know About Mass Shootings?

In the following interview, Tommy Tucker discusses mass shooters and the things we have learned about them with Jillian Peterson. Listen here. Author: Tommy Tucker Source: WWL First News

May 26, 2022

3 things to know about America’s relentless gun violence

"Densley and Peterson write that the “overwhelming number of shootings and shooting threats” have left schools struggling to respond, resulting in a patchwork of different measures that have failed to slow the frequency of attacks across the states. The two scholars contrast this local response to school shooting in the U.S. to the national legislative… Read More »

May 25, 2022

Texas gunman warned of Uvalde school shooting in private Facebook message

"An overwhelming number of school shooters — 80 percent — display warning signs ahead of their attacks, such as discussing them online or in person, said Jillian Peterson, an associate professor of criminology and criminal justice at Hamline University in Minnesota. “The most common is they tell their classmates,” said Peterson, who has studied hundreds… Read More »

May 25, 2022

'We know what we need to do': At least 21 dead after shooting at Texas elementary school

Alan speaks with Dr. Jillian Peterson, Associate Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Hamline University in Minnesota about where we should go after the Uvalde shooting. Listen here. Author: Alan Carter Source: The Alan Carter Radio Program

May 25, 2022

The Mehdi Show

"Experts cite a “social contagion” factor around mass shootings, but “It’s about not giving perpetrators the stage they’re looking for," says Dr Jillian Peterson. "These are public performances meant to go viral. If we can … focus on policy change, that’s much better." Watch Here. Source: The Mehdi Show

May 25, 2022

Mass shooters are increasingly attacking 'soft targets' such as supermarkets. Experts say securing them will be difficult

"'Once one shooting gets a lot of media attention, it becomes a blueprint that future shooters follow," Peterson says. "Individuals who are on the edge and looking for answers see themselves in other perpetrators, and they are looking for the same fame and attention.'" The following article discusses the increase of mass shootings at supermarkets… Read More »

May 20, 2022

Preventing Student Violence: 3 Key Takeaways

"In her own work, Peterson and her fellow researchers have found variation in how trained law-enforcement officers even respond to hypothetical situations, like a student drawing of a violent act. That’s why Peterson favors a “slight rebrand” of threat assessment, preferring to call it “crisis management” instead. A student may be in an emotional or… Read More »

May 19, 2022

Buffalo massacre highlights how mass shooters are able to obtain weapons legally

"New York Gov. Kathy Hochul took steps Wednesday to strengthen the state’s “red flag” law after an accused gunman in the Buffalo massacre bought the weapon used in the attack despite being held for a mental health evaluation last year. Hamline University criminal justice professor Jillian Peterson, a forensic psychologist and co-founder of The Violence… Read More »

May 18, 2022

Responding to Student Threats: Schools Wrestle With How to Prevent Violence

As school shooting threats are at an all time high, the following article discusses how to deal with them to prevent the threat of mass violence in schools. Read more here. Author: Evie Blad Source: Education Week

May 18, 2022

Buffalo is latest mass shooting by gunman wearing body armor

"The Violence Project database doesn’t show a clear correlation with body armor and the number of victims. But such gear can enable attackers to shoot longer and is a symbolic way to adhere to societal expectations of what a mass shooting looks like, said James Densley, a criminal justice professor at Metro State University in… Read More »

May 18, 2022

How to prevent a mass shooting? Police options are limited

"Most of the time, authorities rely on tips from an informal network of parents, teachers, students, coaches and counselors. Researchers who study mass shootings say the decentralized approach can lead to information silos between agencies, which makes follow-through especially difficult. “At the moment, it’s just individual agencies, individual officers, individual school teachers, a lot of… Read More »

May 17, 2022

What Do Most Mass Shooters Have in Common? They Bought Their Guns Legally.

“'The infuriating part is that we seem to be going backward,” said James Densley, a co-founder of the Violence Project, a nonpartisan research center that compiled the data used in the National Institute of Justice report. While it is hard to make broad generalizations, Mr. Densley and his partner, Jillian Peterson, discerned several patterns among… Read More »

May 16, 2022

KNX In Depth: White replacement theory said to have fueled Buffalo mass shooting

"Two more mass shootings rock the country. Police say a man motivated by racial hatred and white supremacy opened fire inside a supermarket in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Buffalo, killing 10 people. Replacement Theory is said to be a major factor in the shooting. We go In Depth into what that is and how… Read More »

May 16, 2022

Mass shootings cannot, need not be the nation's default

"Densley and Peterson point out that, in the aggregate, perpetrators are angry with the world and in search of a reason and a way to manifest it. "Hate comes late along this pathway," the professors write. Perpetrators' understanding of their cause is typically "shallow and contradictory" and "simply convenient."" In this article, the authors utilize… Read More »

May 16, 2022

Hate is not at the root of most mass shootings

"With yet another young White man in police custody and charged with first-degree murder after a mass shooting — this time at a supermarket in Buffalo on Saturday — the police and the public are again asking: Why? Law enforcement officials were quick to label the massacre, which left 10 people dead, a hate crime…. Read More »

May 15, 2022

A New Mexico man convinced the FBI he was not a threat. Then he carried out a school shooting.

"The missed signals in the case echo what happened before the school shootings in Parkland, Florida, when the FBI failed to act on tips about the shooter, and in Oxford, Michigan, where school officials are accused of ignoring obvious warning signs. “This is yet another example of system failure,” said James Densley, an expert in… Read More »

May 10, 2022

National Institute of Justice Funded Research Amasses Details of a Half Century of United States Mass Shootings

"The Office of Justice Programs’ National Institute of Justice (NIJ) today published an article discussing the NIJ-supported and publicly available Violence Project Database that identifies common traits of persons who engaged in mass shootings between 1966 and 2019…" In this article, the United States Justice Department discusses the process and analysis of data collected by… Read More »

Feb 4, 2022

School closures are costly caution — but are still not enough to prevent tragedies

"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 »

Dec 20, 2021

Gun violence and threats are on the rise at Indiana schools

"We know risk factors are things like trauma, isolation, suicidality, depression, and hopelessness, being in crisis, spending more time in the dark corners of the internet — things that we knew the pandemic kind of exacerbated,” she said. “And then on top of that, we saw record gun sales. So we know that there's just… Read More »

Dec 20, 2021

How schools respond to social media threats

Dr. Jillian Peterson joins Rob Ferrett to discuss how schools can evaluate potential threats and maintain student safety, especially on social media. Listen here Author: Rob Ferrett Source: Wisconsin Public Radio

Dec 20, 2021

Assessing Shooting Threats Is a Matter of Life or Death. Why Aren’t Experts Better at It?

"In Davison, Mich., 20 miles north of the site of the mass shooting at Oxford High School on Nov. 30, a middle schooler sits in prison for threatening a school shooting in 2019. For claiming the “trench coat mafia”—a reference to a debunked 1999 Columbine shooting conspiracy—and drawing up a detailed plan of attack, he… Read More »

Dec 16, 2021

The Shooter's Parents

Dr. Jillian Peterson joins Vox to discusses the Oxford High School mass shooting, the aftermath ofthe perpetrator and his parents, and what this means for the future and school shooting threats. Listen here Author: Produced by Victoria Chamberlin, engineered by Paul Mounsey, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, and edited by Sean Rameswaram who also serves as… Read More »

Dec 8, 2021

ALICE, America’s Most Controversial Active-Shooter Training that Teaches Kids to Fight Back, Saved Dozens of Lives in Oxford HS Attack, CEO Claims

"If it’s an insider going through all of that with everybody else, with all of that information, then that approach just stops making a lot of sense,” Peterson said. “But that also opens up all of these new avenues where you can say, ‘Hey, it’s a kid in this school who is going to do… Read More »

Dec 7, 2021

Preparation versus security in preventing mass shootings

"Several shootings at a local park. A gun found in a student’s bag. A call to 911 about gunfire at a local football game. As a community, Bloomington is not immune from gun violence. In fact, according to Captain Scott Oldham of the Bloomington Police Department (BPD), Bloomington is far from quiet when it comes… Read More »

Dec 7, 2021

1208 IN FOCUS 3: Discussion on the Michigan school shooting and how to avoid such incidents from happening

On this podcast, Dr. Jillian Peterson discusses the Oxford High School shooting as well as prevention strategies for the future. Listen here Source: This Morning

Dec 7, 2021

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… Read More »

Dec 7, 2021

CNN Newsroom with Jim Sciutto

Dr. Jillian Peterson discusses the Oxford High School shooting including the role of the perpetrators parents, missed red flags, and what that means for the case overall. Watch here Source: CNN

Dec 6, 2021

'Constant state of anxiety.' Yet another school shooting takes its psychological toll

"More than half of American teenagers worry about a shooting at their school, and a lifetime of active shooter drills, locker searches, and locked school doors has engendered in them an overwhelming fear of imminent death." This article discusses the rise of school shootings and threats along with the psychological impact that has on students…. Read More »

Dec 5, 2021

School shootings: It’s hard to spot the warning signs. Prevention steps can help.

"Our research shows that a crisis is really a change in behavior from baseline. So it's just the student acting differently than they normally do and then any sort of fascination with school shootings, with past shootings, with violence, any sort of leakage about threatening violence towards themselves or others. But really, that crisis is… Read More »

Dec 5, 2021

CNN Newsroom with Pamela Brown

In light of the Oxford High School mass shooting, Dr. Jillian Peterson discusses how active shooting drills within schools are not working and can potentially provide a "blueprint" for perpetrators for more attacks. Watch here Source: CNN

Dec 5, 2021

Red flags and warning signs of school shootings

Dr. James Densley discusses the research of The Violence Project and their findings behind warning signs and red flags that a shooting may occur. These findings are translated into information to prevent school shootings in light of the recent Oxford High School shooting. Watch here Source: NewsNation

Dec 4, 2021

Two Minnesota professors have devoted their careers to researching mass shooters

"Something like mass shootings are all about shades of gray," Densley said. "One solution would be imperfect, so people were pitting imperfect solutions off each other. 'Because this one thing won't fix everything, we won't do it.' So we've ended up doing nothing. But if you layer those imperfect solutions, they start to add up… Read More »

Dec 3, 2021

BBC Newshour: The World Tonight

The authors discuss the Oxford High School mass shooting and the implications of this case. Listen here Source: BBC

Dec 3, 2021

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… Read More »

Dec 2, 2021

Gun violence warning signs | NewsNation Prime

Dr. James Densley joins NewsNation Prime to talk about the warning signs of school shootings as school shooting threats continue to be on the rise. Watch here Source: NewsNation

Dec 2, 2021

A Moral Panic Is Brewing About Instagram and Video Games. Don't Fall for It | Opinion

"There's a new moral panic brewing about Instagram. It began with the testimony of Facebook whistleblower and a leaked internal Facebook study about the supposed harmful effects of Instagram on teenage girls, including suicidal ideation and eating disorders. This led to a national freak-out over social media and its corrupting influence over the youth, an… Read More »

Dec 2, 2021

FBI warns of ‘bystander fatigue,’ says it was likely a factor in Oregon District mass shooting

"In our study, there was an association between leaking plans and suicidality and prior counseling, suggesting that threats of violence may best be characterized as a cry for help,” Densley said. “Any threat is a critical moment for intervention. So we need to people to be attuned to behavioral change.” The following article discusses the… Read More »

Dec 1, 2021

Training, ubiquitous in era of school shootings, appears to have saved lives in Oxford

"… The most effective approach might not feel like security at all, Densley said. He suggests schools hire more counselors, reduce class sizes and otherwise work to connect to students who may be emotionally troubled. “Those things don’t feel like school safety but actually they are,” he said. “It’s a hard sell…" The following article… Read More »

Dec 1, 2021

What This Week’s Mass Shooting Can Teach Us About School Safety

“We have really failed this generation of kids. Basically we’ve put this problem on their backs. We’ve said you need to go through active shooter drills and metal detectors and have police in your schools in order to feel safe, because we’ve failed to act on other things that would keep guns out of schools… Read More »

Dec 1, 2021

What are the warning signs of a potential mass shooter? | NewsNation Prime

Dr. James Densley joins NewsNation Prime to talk about how to spot warning signs of a potential mass shooter including when someone is in a crisis and possible intervention methods to prevent violence. Watch here Source: NewsNation

Dec 1, 2021

Peer-Reviewed

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 and suicidality, which suggests… Read More »

Nov 5, 2021

Communication of Intent to Do Harm Preceding Mass Public Shootings in the United States, 1966 to 2019

"Importance: Understanding the motivation of a mass shooter’s intent to do harm can help practitioners and policy makers develop more effective intervention strategies. Objective: To examine the prevalence of communication of intent to do harm, known as leakage, in a sample of 170 mass public shooters from 1966 to 2019; the characteristics of perpetrators who… Read More »

Nov 4, 2021

Guys and guns: Why men are behind the vast majority of America's gun violence

"According to the nonprofit research center The Violence Project, men are responsible for 98% of mass shootings, and according to an analysis by Everytown for Gun Safety, a grassroots organization aiming to combat gun violence, men were behind 94% of 240 mass shootings (four or more killed regardless of location) from 2009 to 2020 in… Read More »

Nov 3, 2021

Supreme Court Second Amendment Case Puts Gun Control Laws At Risk

"On October 20, 23-year-old Nikolas Cruz pled guilty to murdering 17 people in the 2018 Parkland school shooting. Four years after that tragedy — with school shootings doubling nationally as students return from remote learning — the Supreme Court is considering a case that could have a tremendous impact on gun control legislation. The lawsuit… Read More »

Nov 3, 2021

‘The Violence Project’ book investigates mass shootings in order to find solutions

"In September of this year, Abrams Press released a new book by Jillian Peterson and James Densley titled, “The Violence Project: How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic.” The book is the result of more than four years of work and research. Both Peterson and Densley believe that understanding the problem is a necessary step… Read More »

Oct 26, 2021

School shootings are increasing — and changing. Easily accessible guns are to blame.

"School shootings more than doubled this September compared with the same month in previous years. But in considering how to deal with these tragic events, it is important to recognize how they are different from the Columbine, Sandy Hook and Parkland attacks that most people think of when they hear the term 'school shooting'…" In… Read More »

Oct 8, 2021

Episode 123: Mass Shootings: An Interview with Criminologists Drs. Jillian Peterson and James Densley, the Argument for Data-Driven Nuance, and Steps for Prevention

"In this episode, we speak with Jillian Peterson, PhD, and James Densley, PhD, who are professors of criminology. They have spent several years creating https://www.theviolenceproject.org/, which is the largest database on mass shooters. Throughout this article, we will include tables with data from the database, presenting the raw numbers and percentages. We hope this will… Read More »

Sep 8, 2021

Book review: What if mass shootings are the American way?

"Reviewing "The Violence Project, How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic," the authors view active shooter drills as counterproductive and they find our so-called "school hardening" techniques to be waste." The following article reviews Dr. Jillian Peterson and Dr. James Densley's book "The Violence Project: How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic" and their findings…. Read More »

Sep 7, 2021

How to stop a mass shooter

"We’ve tried hiding from the monsters. We’ve tried running from the monsters. We’ve tried barricading the doors so they can’t come in, and locking them up so they can’t get out. And yet, they keep creeping into our lives — more so than ever before. The monsters are mass shooters, including those who unleash hell… Read More »

Sep 7, 2021

Handling associations between violent crime and mental illness with responsibility

"In the wake of the shooting in Plymouth, that resulted in the deaths of five people and then later the shooter himself, as is frequently the case, the media turned it’s focus onto the ‘why’. From discussing the shooter’s ‘incel’ or ‘involuntary celibate’, ideology, his autism diagnosis to his mental health struggles over lockdown. Sometimes,… Read More »

Sep 2, 2021

Preventing the Next Attack: Implications of Returning to In-Person Activity

Listen Here "As society cautiously re-opens and returns to in-person activity and work, violence and physical threats to businesses are occurring at an unsettling, record-high pace. This is a result of multiple factors, from pent up economic and political frustrations to revised health and safety protocols in the office. However, there’s someone who isn’t passively… Read More »

Aug 25, 2021

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 »

Aug 23, 2021

Goodreads Reviews – The Violence Project: How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic

Read early reviews of "The Violence Project: How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic" on Goodreads here. Preorder on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1419752952/ "An incredibly important book. It has been hard to get through strictly because of how painful a topic mass shootings and gun violence can be. Despite the painfully honest descriptions of the state… Read More »

Jul 27, 2021

How to Prevent a Tragedy: PW Talks with Jillian Peterson and James Densley

Publishers Weekly interviewed Jillian Peterson and James Densley about their upcoming book, "The Violence Project: How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic." Interviewer: Lisa Butts Source: Publishers Weekly Read the Full Interview Here Preview: Did your research change the way you think about mass shooters? Densley: I would say the research actually changed us as… Read More »

Jul 23, 2021

Publishers Weekly Review – The Violence Project: How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic

In this insightful and cautiously optimistic account, psychologist Peterson and sociologist Densley present findings from their study of nearly 200 mass shootings in the U.S. between 1966 and 2020. Drawing on trial transcripts, media reports, and interviews with perpetrators, their friends and family, and survivors, Peterson and Densley identify risk factors, including childhood abuse and… Read More »

Jul 19, 2021

KIRKUS reviews: "The Violence Project"

“a bracing compilation of mass shooter profiles and first-person accounts from violent criminals… a multifaceted study that is alternately horrifying, depressing, and even hopeful…A distressing, critical study in the understanding, processing, and prevention of mass-casualty gun violence.” Read the full review from Kirkus Here Preorder on Amazon at: https://amazon.com/dp/1419752952/

Jul 16, 2021

What causes gun violence and how can we stop it?

Listen Here "Close to 290 people have been killed or wounded by gunshots in Minneapolis in the first half of 2021. That’s about double the number of people hit by bullets in the first six months of each of the previous four years. Homicides jumped from 22 to 40 in that same period. The deaths… Read More »

Jun 30, 2021

Unpacking the Violence Project: Episode 136

"Mass shootings account for only 0.2% of firearm deaths in the US a year — but their impact is large, deeply traumatizing survivors, their communities, and the country as a whole. How do we, as a nation, try to prevent these mass shootings? And what commonalities exist between not just these shootings, but the shooters… Read More »

Jun 25, 2021

Halfway through 2021, the US has seen more than 280 mass shootings, including one in Iowa

The Violence Project's co-founder Jillian Peterson was featured in a segment by CNN about the rise in mass shootings throughout the country. "Jillian Peterson, Associate Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Hamline University, said, 'That type of violence has been surging through the pandemic, and now in 2021 we're really seeing those numbers rise…. Read More »

Jun 20, 2021

Recent Spate of Mass Shootings Is Among Worst in U.S. History

A string of mass shootings over the past three months as the U.S. re-opened from the pandemic was one of the worst on record, and law-enforcement officials are fearful of more to come. There were five attacks in which four or more people were killed in public places from March through May, matching the highest… Read More »

Jun 9, 2021

Buzz Books Fall/Winter Preview: Nonfiction Part 1

Not everyday you get mentioned in the same breath as #Fauci, @ChrisCuomo, David Attenborough, @JaneGoodallInst, @willsommer, @MichaelEDyson, @sapinker but The Violence Project is a @PublishersLunch nonfiction "buzz book". Coming Sept 7th @ABRAMSbooks – from Twitter Preorder on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1419752952/ Read the Full List of Buzz Books Here "Our season preview from our Buzz Books… Read More »

May 17, 2021

Gun Violence Prevention: What a Study of Mass Shootings Tells Us About How to Prevent Them

The Violence Project's co-founders Jillian Peterson and James Densley spoke with the director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Prevention and Policy. Listen to their discussion on YouTube here. YouTube Description: Mass shootings are very rare, but they receive a lot of media attention and have enormous social costs. Guest host Dr. Daniel… Read More »

May 17, 2021

No More Normal: Gun Violence Part 1

As of Friday, May 14, there have been nearly 16,000 deaths due to guns so far this year in the United States, according to data from Gun Violence Archive. Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic, protests about racial equity, and the general election dominated our attention, but that doesn’t mean that other serious matters like gun… Read More »

May 16, 2021

How do we prevent mass shootings? There’s a new website to lead the way

SAINT PAUL, Minn., May 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — As life begins to return to normal, so has the reality of mass shootings that plague this country. In the wake of Atlanta, Boulder, and Indianapolis, The Violence Project has launched a new online training platform called “Off-Ramp.” It’s the first website dedicated to preventing mass shootings… Read More »

May 14, 2021

Idaho shooting: Very few school incidents committed by girls

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Authorities say they are trying to determine what prompted a young girl to open fire at a rural Idaho middle school, one of the few school shootings in which the suspect is female. The shooting happened around 9 a.m. Thursday, when police say the girl pulled a handgun out of her… Read More »

May 8, 2021

Psychosis and mass shootings: A systematic examination using publicly available data.

Mass shootings are often blamed on serious mental illness. This study assesses the role of psychosis in contributing to mass shootings along a continuum. The role of psychosis is compared with other motivations for mass shootings including employment issues, interpersonal conflict, relationship issues, hate, and fame-seeking. Perpetrators motivated by psychosis are also compared with other… Read More »

May 6, 2021

A Horrible History: Colorado’s Plague of Mass Shootings

"The Boulder King Soopers mass shooting on March 22, 2021, took as many lives as the prior four Colorado mass shootings combined. Colorado has witnessed 12 mass shootings in the last 27 years, claiming 59 lives and injuring another 125 people — many with life-changing afflictions. As these events grow in frequency and severity, experts… Read More »

Apr 30, 2021

How ending child abuse and improving mental health care could prevent mass shootings

The Violence Project's co-founders spoke with reporters from Global News about our research into the commonalities behind mass shooters. The most prevalent commonality after gun access was childhood abuse and neglect (92% of cases). This article examines the mass shooting in Nova Scotia in April 2020, and uses Drs. Peterson and Densley's expertise to understand… Read More »

Apr 13, 2021

Main Stream Media Super Spreaders

The NRA published an article in the wake of three deadly mass shootings citing our op-ed from August 2019, "We Have Studied Every Mass Shooting Since 1966. Here’s What We’ve Learned About The Shooters." From the NRA: "Peterson and Densley wrote in the L.A. Times almost two years ago that, 'most of the shooters had… Read More »

Apr 5, 2021

Minnesota stalemate on gun laws is contrast to broader national momentum

The Violence Project's James Densley commented on the stalled discussion of gun violence laws in the Star Tribune. In this article, he "pointed out that Minneapolis and St. Paul both notched homicide totals last year not seen since the 1990s. 'So if it is the mass shootings that gets the legislators through the door to… Read More »

Apr 3, 2021

After three deadly gun rampages, survivors and experts fear what comes next

"Authorities laid out a harrowing timeline: A 21-year-old white supremacist was believed to have posted a 2,300-word screed online in August 2019, saying the mass shooting he was planning was inspired by another shooter who had killed 51 people in New Zealand mosques. Minutes later, authorities say, Patrick Crusius stormed into a Walmart in Texas,… Read More »

Apr 3, 2021

La pandémie semble avoir exacerbé le risque de tuerie de masse aux Etats-Unis – "The pandemic seems to have exacerbated the risk of mass killings in the United States"

"For sociologist James Densley, the upsurge in mass killings at the end of March in the United States is explained by the reopening of public places and a sharp increase in arms sales during confinement." Read the Interview Here Pour le sociologue James Densley, la recrudescence des tueries de masse fin mars aux Etats-Unis s’explique… Read More »

Apr 3, 2021

‘Horrific massacre’ Orange shooting gunman targeted four victims, but motive still a mystery

“How many more children have to die before our policymakers act?” asked James Densley, cofounder and copresident of the Violence Project. Dr. Densley commented further on the recent rapid increase in gun violence, “We made almost 30 years of gains in reductions in homicides, and in a year, we’re now at a point where we’re… Read More »

Apr 1, 2021

Gun violence column points to need for more interventions on childhood trauma, other crises

The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County commends the efforts and research of Jillian Peterson and James Densley of The Violence Project in their March 26 column, “Why mass shootings stopped in 2020.” Oftentimes when there is a mass shooting, mental illness is blamed. However, individuals with mental illness… Read More »

Apr 1, 2021

America’s Failed Attempt to Ban Assault Weapons

As the U.S. begins to make progress against Covid-19, a different tragedy has returned to the headlines: mass shootings. On March 16, a gunman killed eight people at spas and massage parlors in the Atlanta area. Days later, another gunman killed 10 at a supermarket in Boulder, Colo. With the tragedies have come renewed calls… Read More »

Apr 1, 2021

How Many Mass Shootings Have There Been in 2021 So Far? It Depends How You Count

"Three massage parlors in Atlanta, a grocery store in Colorado and an office in California were all sites of deadly mass shootings in March 2021. Twenty-two lives were lost during these tragedies, leading to renewed calls for action to prevent gun violence. Campaigners often cite mass shooting statistics. So, how regular are mass shootings and… Read More »

Apr 1, 2021

4 Killed, Including Child, in Mass Shooting at California Office Complex

Four people are dead, including a child, and two injured after a shooter opened fire at an office building in Orange, California. According to the Orange Police Department, authorities responded to a call at 5:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday and arrived on the scene "as shots were being fired." They observed "multiple victims at… Read More »

Apr 1, 2021

A 9-Year-Old Boy Is Among 4 Killed in Southern California Shooting

ORANGE, Calif. — A gunman opened fire at a Southern California real estate office on Wednesday, killing four people, including a 9-year-old boy who the authorities said appeared to have died in his mother’s arms as she tried to shield him from the gunfire. The shooting was likely related to a “business and personal relationship… Read More »

Mar 31, 2021

Restore humane shield to juvenile criminal records

The Violence Project's co-founder James Densley's piece in the Star Tribune, "Restoring humanity to the system is overdue," (March 15) was mentioned by Sarah Davis in her opinion on juvenile records. Read Davis's piece here. Author: Sarah Davis Source: Star Tribune

Mar 31, 2021

After A Year Without Mass School Shootings, Experts Sound the Alarm About a ‘Return to Normal’

As the pandemic spread across the country, students were swept from their classrooms and isolated in their homes, raising concern that the instability could result in devastating emotional health implications and widespread learning loss. But it also came with an unsettling silver lining: A year without a single mass school shooting. The trend wasn’t unique… Read More »

Mar 30, 2021

Will a return to normal post-pandemic mean a return of mass shootings?

The Violence Project's co-founder James Densley spoke with Talib Visram from Fast Company about the contagion effect of mass shootings and mental health. “The reality is: We weren’t living our best selves before the pandemic. America was not a happy, fully functioning place where everybody felt included, and where everybody was thriving. Going back to… Read More »

Mar 29, 2021

Why Are Almost All Mass Shooters Men?

A staggering 98 percent of mass shootings have been committed by men, according to The Violence Project, a nonpartisan research group that tracks U.S. mass shooting data dating back to 1966, reports American University Radio. Researchers say that men, more than women, tend to externalize their problems and look for others to blame, which can… Read More »

Mar 29, 2021

Why Nearly All Mass Shooters Are Men

This week, a shooting attack at a grocery store in Boulder, Colo., left 10 people dead. Just days earlier, eight people were fatally shot in a rampage targeting spas in the Atlanta area. As with almost every mass shooter in recorded U.S. history, both of the suspects in the recent attacks are men. A staggering… Read More »

Mar 27, 2021

Opinion: Two weeks, two mass shootings — back to normal for America

Welcome to the first Opinion newsletter of spring (though, and I’m sorry to say this, if the warming season provides a reason to hope, the circumstances certainly do not). I’m Paul Thornton, and it is Saturday, March 27, 2021. Let’s take a look back at the week in Opinion. Last week, it was Atlanta. Or… Read More »

Mar 27, 2021

Eine Wartephase nach dem Waffenkauf würde einen Zeitpuffer schaffen – "A waiting phase after buying a weapon would create a time buffer"

After the firearms attacks in Colorado and Atlanta, Professor Densley believes that something will change when it comes to gun laws in the United States Interview with Frank Herrmann from Minneapolis Nach den Schusswaffenangriffen in Colorado und Atlanta glaubt Strafrechtsprofessor Densley, dass sich in puncto Waffengesetze in den USA etwas ändern wird INTERVIEW – Frank… Read More »

Mar 26, 2021

Diese Waffen werden glorifiziert – "These weapons are glorified"

"After recent mass shootings with many dead in the USA, calls for stricter gun laws have risen again. Frank Herrmann spoke to James Densley about this. The lawyer co-founded the 'Violence Project' – the most comprehensive database in the US that documents gun violence. BZ: Mr. Densley, following the bloodshed at massage parlors in Georgia… Read More »

Mar 26, 2021

It's Not Hopeless – Vice News Tonight

Thursday, March 25, 2021: Our co-founders Jillian Peterson and James Densley spoke to Krishna Andavolu at Vice News about The Violence Project's research into mass shootings. Starting in the 1960s through the COVID-19 pandemic, they discussed risk factors and the common social script that lead to mass shootings. Watch the interview here. James and Jillian… Read More »

Mar 25, 2021

Mass Shootings In The US: WWL First News

The Violence Project's Dr. Jillian Peterson joins Tommy Tucker to talk about mass shootings in 2021 in the US. Listen to the radio broadcast here Length: Nine minutes Source: WWL First News with Tommy Tucker, AM Radio 870, FM Radio 105.3

Mar 25, 2021

The way we think about mass shootings ignores many black victims

The Violence Project's Dr. Jillian Peterson speaks with The Trace about the challenges of defining a mass shooting. Taken from The Trace's article, "Varying definitions of what constitutes a 'mass shooting' also seem to have influenced coverage choices. The Violence Project, whose data has been cited by several news organizations in the wake of the… Read More »

Mar 25, 2021

Columbine and the era of the mass shooter, two decades on

Twenty-one years ago, two seniors at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., shot and killed 12 fellow students and a teacher. Three months later, a gunman murdered his wife and children and then attacked two day-trading firms in the Atlanta suburbs, killing a dozen more people. The eerie echoes of those back-to-back assaults have reverberated… Read More »

Mar 25, 2021

Colorado is one of four states whose laws don't prohibit someone with a mental illness from owning firearms

The Violence Project's co-founder James Densleys spoke to Faith Karimi at CNN about the difficulty in determining who should be banned from owning a firearm under current law. "For that reason some might say federal restrictions are too broad, Densley said, because banning gun ownership for life after someone is hospitalized could increase stigmas and… Read More »

Mar 25, 2021

A Heavily Armed Man at a Grocery Store Adds to Anxiety in Atlanta

Dr. Jillian Peterson discussed how the recent mass shootings could be the spark of more mass violence. She also spoke about the drop off of mass shootings in 2020 after the two worst years on record, as well as the risks of social contagion. "'The more media coverage, the more the perpetrator’s face and message… Read More »

Mar 25, 2021

Atlanta, Boulder Tragedies Are Stark Reminder Mass Shootings May Be Part Of Our ‘Return To Normal’

Reset checks in with a reporter on the ground in Boulder, Colo., for the latest on the aftermath of Monday’s shooting that left 10 people dead. We also hear from a researcher of gun violence for her take on what’s driving the recent mass shootings, and why they seem to be coinciding with reopening efforts… Read More »

Mar 24, 2021

For the COVID-19 pandemic we wear masks. For the pandemic of gun violence, what do we do?

The Violence Project's co-founders Jillian Peterson and James Densley spoke with Alia Dastagir about how we can combat gun violence. "We're acting like these are scary monsters, and they just show up and the best we can do is run faster and hide," Peterson said. "Our goal is to show the pathway for perpetrators, so… Read More »

Mar 24, 2021

US saw estimated 4,000 extra murders in 2020 amid surge in daily gun violence

For exactly a year during the pandemic, the United States did not see a single high-profile public mass shooting. But a surge in daily gun violence contributed to an estimated 4,000 additional murders throughout 2020, in what experts warn will probably be the worst single-year increase in murders on record. There were only two public… Read More »

Mar 24, 2021

It's necessary: America's other deadly virus – mass shootings

The past year has been deadly, as the coronavirus pandemic claimed over a half-million lives in the United States and close to 3 million worldwide. We've stayed home, away from public places such as offices, stores and schools. But as we inch back towards normal life, a uniquely American epidemic has once again begun to… Read More »

Mar 24, 2021

Haunted by mass violence, Colorado confronts painful history

"Dawn Reinfeld moved to Colorado 30 years ago to attend college in the bucolic town of Boulder. Enchanted by the state’s wide-open spaces, she stayed. But, in the ensuing decades, dark events have clouded her view of her adopted home. The 1999 massacre at Columbine High School. The 2012 massacre at the Aurora movie theater…. Read More »

Mar 24, 2021

Recent Mass Shootings

The Violence Project's data has been cited repeatedly in the aftermath of two horrific mass shootings in Atlanta, GA and Boulder, CO. Here are a few articles that mentioned us briefly, or cited our commentary in the New York Times. Links are in bold: Recent mass shootings in the U.S., Seattle Times, March 23. In… Read More »

Mar 24, 2021

Boulder Shooting Suspect Charged With 10 Counts of Murder

BOULDER, Colo.—Monday afternoon was quiet at the King Soopers grocery store on Table Mesa Drive. A smattering of shoppers meandered through the aisles. Several waited for Covid-19 vaccinations at the pharmacy. At the Starbucks , Logan Smith brewed a coffee for his friend and co-worker Denny Stong. Then a man burst through the store’s front… Read More »

Mar 24, 2021

Where Minnesota Lawmakers Stand On Solutions For Gun Violence

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — After the mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado, the question of how to stop such violence is once again part of the national conversation. James Densley, a criminal justice professor at Metropolitan State University, helped found the non-partisan Violence Project to study the topic. The Violence Project interviews perpetrators of mass shootings, victims’… Read More »

Mar 23, 2021

Local expert: 'Break in the cycle' appears over following 2nd mass shooting in a week

The Violence Project's James Densley discussed the rapid return of mass shootings and what can be done to prevent more. "All too often what ends up happening is we fall into the trap of saying, it has to be one thing or the other and in doing so we explain these problems away. We say,… Read More »

Mar 23, 2021

Tiroteos masivos en EEUU: ¿Un mal crónico? – Mass shootings in the US: A chronic disease?

"The COVID-19 pandemic apparently forced a truce and during 2020, mass shootings fell in the United States. But apparently that form of violence is back. In less than a week , two were registered." The Violence Project co-founder James Densley commented on the "era of mass shootings" in this article by El Político. The original… Read More »

Mar 23, 2021

America Can End its Mass Shootings By Treating Violent Attacks like a Contagious Virus

CJ Werleman reports on the third mass shooting in a week in America in Boulder, Colorado, and explores how the country could start to stop such events happening with alarming frequency. He spoke to The Violence Project's co-founder James Densley about risk factors to mass shootings and social contagion. Read the full article here Author:… Read More »

Mar 23, 2021

A List of Recent Mass Shootings in the United States

The bleak reality of a list like this is that it leaves out so many more. There have been dozens of mass shootings in the United States in just the past five years, according to the Violence Project, which maintains a database of attacks in which at least four people were killed. And before that,… Read More »

Mar 23, 2021

Why mass shootings stopped in 2020 — and why they are now roaring back

Mass shootings, which had become far less frequent in 2020, have come roaring back. On Monday, a gunman opened fire at a grocery store in Boulder, Colo., killing 10. And this comes on the heels of the Atlanta spa attacks last week that killed eight. We’ve been studying mass shootings, defined as four or more… Read More »

Mar 23, 2021

First Atlanta, then Boulder: Two mass shootings in a week.

"The deadly shooting in Boulder, Colo. on Monday, where 10 people were killed, including a police officer, was the second mass shooting in the United States in less than a week." The two recent mass shootings were the first since March 2020, despite rises in other types of gun violence. Read the Article Here Authors:… Read More »

Mar 22, 2021

Mass shootings in public spaces had become less frequent during the pandemic.

Until Tuesday, when eight people were killed in Atlanta-area spas, it had been a year since there had been a large-scale shooting in a public place. In 2018, the year that a gunman killed 17 people and injured 17 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., there were 10 mass shootings where… Read More »

Mar 19, 2021

Locks, Lights, and Out of Sight: How Lockdown Drills Affect America's Children

"As schools re-open across the country, there’s one thing that has not gone away: lockdown drills." The Violence Project Co-Founder Jillian Peterson spoke to reporters for this CNN three-part article about how lockdown drills affect children. She spoke about The Violence Project's research into school shootings and her personal connection to lockdown drills. “We've been… Read More »

Mar 10, 2021

Mass Shooter Database Version 3 is Now Available

What's new? Version 3 includes two new cases that met our definition from 2020 – far fewer mass shootings than in previous years. A new variable called “insider/outsider” was added to capture whether the perpetrator had an existing relationship with the site of their shooting. At K-12 schools, 85% of mass shooters were insiders. At… Read More »

Mar 10, 2021

With schools returning to in-person learning, the threat of classroom shootings follows. Here's how experts say we can prevent them from happening.

The Violence Project co-founder Jillian Peterson told Insider how threat assessment teams can help prevent school shootings, as well as prevent further tragedies like suicide, self-harm, and other forms of violence. "We really focus on things like safe, warm environments with strong relationships between students and adults so people feel more comfortable reporting when something's… Read More »

Mar 3, 2021

Armed officers triple mortality in school shootings, study finds

"Nearly three times as many people die in school mass shootings when an armed officer is present. That’s the finding of a study of every case since 1980, led by Hamline University professor Dr. Jillian Peterson. Dr. Peterson joins Dave Ross to discuss why more weapons means more violence, even the hands of 'the good… Read More »

Feb 25, 2021

New research finds armed officers increases likelihood of mortality at school shootings

More people die in school shootings where an armed officer is present than when there isn’t, according to a new study published Tuesday that adds a surprising element to the conversation about whether school resource officers make schools safer. The study, led by Hamline University criminal justice professor Jillian Peterson and published in the JAMA… Read More »

Feb 17, 2021

Presence of Armed School Officials and Fatal and Nonfatal Gunshot Injuries During Mass School Shootings, United States, 1980-2019

After deadly school shootings at Columbine, Sandy Hook, and Parkland, many states mandated School Resource Officers or provided funding for districts to hire them. Lawmakers also considered arming teachers. Florida now requires a law enforcement officer or trained school guardian in every school. By examining every recorded incident where one or more people was intentionally… Read More »

Feb 16, 2021

Press Release – Study Finds Armed Officers Increase Mortality in School Mass Shootings

Saint Paul, Minn. — More people die in school mass shootings where an armed officer is present according to a study published by Minnesota researchers in the peer-reviewed journal, JAMA Open Network on February 16, 2021. The study, led by Hamline University professor Dr. Jillian Peterson, examined every case since 1980 where one or more… Read More »

Feb 16, 2021

In a time of pandemic and riot, crime was up 15 percent in St. Paul last year

The Violence Project's Jillian Peterson spoke with Mara Gottfried about risk factors for violence. "Research shows that poverty, stress and mental health concerns — all amplified during the coronavirus pandemic — increase the risk for gun violence and homicides, Peterson said. At the same time, the pandemic has impacted face-to-face prevention efforts." The full article… Read More »

Jan 13, 2021

In a year of pain, one silver lining: fewer mass shootings

As 2020 comes to a close, The Violence Project's co-founders once again spoke with Associated Press reporter Lisa Marie Pane for a recap of this year's lack of mass shootings. The number of mass shootings this year – two – is lower than it ahs been in over a decade. The decline in mass killings… Read More »

Dec 29, 2020

US gun violence: too many people have died in 2020 – and COVID played a larger part than you think

"Recent reports here and elsewhere in the media have focused on gun violence in the US, reporting a dramatic rise in mass shootings in 2020 – despite the pandemic – which by November had overtaken the total for 2019. The term mass shooting conjures up images of Columbine and Parkland, but the story for 2020… Read More »

Dec 9, 2020

Upcoming Event: Advancing Understanding, and Informing Prevention of Public Mass Shootings: Findings from NIJ Funded Studies, Part 2

Join us on November 18th from 3-4:30 pm Eastern (4-5:30 pm CST) for a webinar on mass shooting research. This second webinar in a two-part series on mass shootings will review characteristics of these events over past decades, the psycho-social background of mass shooters, and the reasons behind school shootings. Register to attend this Webinar… Read More »

Nov 13, 2020

Reducing the Epidemic of Mass Shootings in the United States – If Not Now, When?

The New York State Bar Association Task Force on Mass Shootings and Assault Weapons published a report in November 2020 with recommendations on how to significantly decrease the occurrence of mass shootings. The report cited The Violence Project's data multiple times, including articles published by the LA Times in August and September of 2019. Read… Read More »

Nov 12, 2020

Podcast: The Patterns Behind Mass Shootings and the Creation of The Violence Project

We all have events or situations in our childhood that shape who we are today. While many are uplifting, there are less fortunate people who encountered childhood trauma, setting them off track to commit some of the most upsetting crimes. Dr. Jillian Peterson, President and Co-Founder of The Violence Project, has dedicated her career to… Read More »

Nov 4, 2020

The one Trump record he doesn’t want you to talk about: An unprecedented number of mass shootings

"Donald Trump’s campaign has touted a string of records achieved during his administration from employment to the economy to opportunities for black communities. But there’s one record that he would rather keep quiet: The number of mass shootings in America." The Violence Project's James Densley discusses the rise in hate related mass shootings over the… Read More »

Oct 29, 2020

Violence Against Women and Public Mass Shootings

Two researchers from Boston University used our database in their cross-referencing study of mass shooters with histories of violence against women. Their study found that nearly half of public mass shooters have had known histories of violence against women. Read more about their other findings and future paths of research here. Authors: Juliann Nicholson and… Read More »

Oct 20, 2020

Unlikely Research Opportunity with The Violence Project Launches Career Path

Hamline News published an article featuring The Violence Project's research into mass shootings. Kyle Knapp '18 discusses how his work as a volunteer researcher affected his life, and Dr. Jillian Peterson expands on The Violence Project's purpose. Read the full article here Source: Hamline News Author: Tom Brandes

Sep 22, 2020

Virus Job Losses, Evictions Seen Risking Mass Attacks in Future

"Anxiety about the pandemic and continued shutdowns may tamp down public fears of mass attacks in public spaces when the economy reopens, said Jillian Peterson, an assistant professor of criminology and criminal justice at Hamline University in Minnesota and co-founder of the Violence Project. 'The other line of thinking, which I think to me is… Read More »

Aug 10, 2020

The United States Secret Service released a report of mass attacks in public spaces during 2019. Their findings mimic ours.

The United States Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center recently released a report detailing mass attacks in public spaces during 2019. Their report analyzed 34 targeted attacks that took place in public or semi-public spaces and harmed three or more individuals. This report's findings mimic findings from our updated and expanded database almost exactly. A… Read More »

Aug 8, 2020

No mass shootings in the U.S. since the pandemic started — what about once it’s over?

"We've never had anything like this." The Violence Project's Jillian Peterson spoke with Tom Miller about the drop off of mass shootings since the pandemic started. The discussion also covered risk factors and trends in mass shootings before 2020. Read about their conversation here. Source: KXAN Author: Tom Miller

Aug 4, 2020

Daily Bulletin: Where Armed Militias Have Protesters Canceling Plans

The Violence Project's updated database made an appearance in The Trace's Daily Bulletin today. Our update "fleshes out the characteristics of mass shooters" and yields new takeaways for researchers and policy makers. Read today's Daily Bulletin here Source: The Trace

Jul 29, 2020

Database Of Mass Shooters Revised And Expanded

Multiple news outlets picked up our announcement of the Expanded and Updated Mass Shooter Database. You can read the update at Yahoo News, Business Insider, and the Associated Press. Sources: Hamline University, The Violence Project

Jul 28, 2020

Announcement: Mass Shooter Database Revised and Expanded

For questions or media comment: Jillian Peterson, PhD, Co-founder, The Violence Project. Email: jill@www.theviolenceproject.org New data on victims, guns, and mental health provide new insights and avenues for data-driven prevention The Violence Project, a nonpartisan research center, has released an updated and expanded version of its popular database of mass shooters. The Violence Project Mass Shooter Database was… Read More »

Jul 27, 2020

Do Police Officers Belong in Schools?

This morning, The Violence Project's Co-Founder Jillian Peterson and Board Member Missy Dodds spoke with Angela Davis on MPR News about safety in schools. The conversation was centered on why some school districts are removing school resource officers from school buildings and what could replace them while maintaining school safety. Davis, Dodds, and Peterson were… Read More »

Jul 7, 2020

Recent Shootings Spark Fears of a More Violent Summer

While mass shootings have occurred much less frequently this year, the number of other non-suicidal gun deaths is expected to be greater than last year. Increased stress, divisions over racial justice and policing, and political tensions are a few of the factors impacting the number of violent shootings. The Violence Project's James Densley told reporters… Read More »

Jun 23, 2020

As States Reopen, Could Mass Shootings Return?

The COVID-19 pandemic has limited the number of mass gatherings occurring across the country. The limited number of events in addition to work from home orders has led to fewer mass shootings so far in 2020. The Violence Project's James Densley and Jillian Peterson addressed the concern of mass shootings returning as states reopen. "There… Read More »

May 29, 2020

What's an 'Incel'? Westgate Shooting Suspect Identifies with this Online Subculture

The Violence Project co-founder James Densley spoke with reporters from NBC's 12 News yesterday to talk about the Westgate Entertainment District shootings. In interviews with police, Westgate suspect Armando JR Hernandez has claimed to be an "incel," which Densley explains is "an online subculture focused on member's perceived inability to find romantic or sexual partners."… Read More »

May 23, 2020

Changing School Violence Prevention Approaches

While the names of victims and perpetrators are spread by the media, survivors of school shootings tend to be overlooked. Yet, the people directly affected by school shootings do not simply disappear. Missy Dodds is using her experience as a survivor of the 2005 Red Lake school shooting to reorient violence prevention approaches. Since the… Read More »

Mar 16, 2020

Family of Molson Coors Shooter Expresses Sadness

The Violence Project's co-founder, James Densley, spoke with reporters from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in the wake of the Milwaukee brewery shooting. In their article about the family of the shooter's heartache, Densley described the rarity for a mass shooting to occur without warning signs. He advocates for an expansion of the phrase 'if you… Read More »

Feb 28, 2020

Five Gun Reforms Could Prevent Most Mass Shootings

After the terrible mass shooting in Milwaukee yesterday, the Los Angeles Times used our data to examine precisely how many mass shootings since 1966 could have been prevented by: (a) a crackdown on straw purchases; (b) safe storage; (c) an assault weapons ban; (d) universal background checks; and (e) red flag laws. Read the full story… Read More »

Feb 27, 2020

Voice of America

When we first started building our database of mass shooters, we contemplated simply housing all the data exclusively on our website and hiring a graphic designer to make it look good. We quickly came to the conclusion that the data were for everybody and that, while not pretty, a simple Excel spreadsheet was the best… Read More »

Feb 14, 2020

Active Shooter Drills and Safe Storage of Firearms

In the lead up to the two year anniversary of the tragedy at Parkland this week, The Violence Project's research featured in a series of articles about school shootings. Jillian Peterson contributed to an NBC News story about the grassroots movement to pass gun safety policy through school boards and how safe storage of firearms… Read More »

Feb 13, 2020

Minnesota creators of 'Mass Shooter Database' sharing work with politicians, educators, police

A training session Friday, January 17, 2020, in downtown St. Paul will discuss their preliminary findings and mass shooting prevention strategies. More than 200 people from across Minnesota and the country are scheduled to attend the sold-out session. The Violence Project will present findings to a Minnesota House committee in early February. Source: Star Tribune Author: Shannon… Read More »

Jan 15, 2020

The Gun Issue in 2020: What's ahead?

Between the November election, Supreme Court decisions on gun regulation, and Red Flag laws gaining traction, 2020 looks to be a pivotal year for the issue of gun violence. The Trace spoke with 13 experts on policy, politics, and the science of gun violence to discuss predictions for the coming year. The Violence Project's co-founders… Read More »

Jan 4, 2020

2019 in Review

Dear friends, As we prepare to ring in 2020, we wanted to reflect on 2019—a landmark year for The Violence Project. Here are just a few highlights: We launched the largest, most comprehensive database of mass shooters in the United States to the public on our new website, https://www.theviolenceproject.org, which has received over 22,000… Read More »

Dec 31, 2019

Why do people attack places of worship? Here’s what we know from our mass shootings database

This year has been the worst on record for mass shootings, including many at places of worship. Read our analysis here Source: Los Angeles Times Authors: Jillian Peterson and James Densley

Dec 30, 2019

US saw highest number of mass killings on record in 2019

Our co-founder James Densley spoke to the AP about their database of mass killings which shows that they hit a new high in 2019, and—confirming The Violence Project's work—most were shootings. The original article was reprinted around the world, appearing on BBC, Chicago Sun Times, Crime Report, Daily Mail, Esquire, Fox News, The Guardian, LA Times, Le… Read More »

Dec 28, 2019

2019 Smart Talk Top Stories — research on guns and mass shooters

The 2019 top stories on Smart Talk series continues Friday with conversations that came in the aftermath of the deadly mass shooting in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio last August. On Friday’s program, we hear that mass shooters from the past 50 years all have four traits in common. That’s according to The Violence… Read More »

Dec 27, 2019

Dorchester school district to offer active-shooter survival training to community in 2020

Community members in the Dorchester School Distrct 2 area in South Carolina will soon be able to participate in active-shooter training courses. The district's Safety and Security Task Force decided to offer this training to the community after learning that 44 percent of active-shooter threats occur within business settings. Research by The Violence Project's co-founders… Read More »

Dec 19, 2019

A New York village averted a potential school shooting. Parents are still furious.

After a school shooting plot was thwarted at a New York middle school, the school district faced numerous questions from parents about what is going to happen next. The three students remain on school suspension facing charges of second-degree conspiracy. The Violence Project's Jill Peterson discussed the importance of talking to the would-be school shooters… Read More »

Dec 2, 2019

Gathering useful data on mass shootings in America

"The database that Peterson and Densley are freely sharing — and the training they offer — can help prevent gun violence and save lives. The initiative merits widespread support." Read the Star Tribune's full editorial on our research here.

Nov 27, 2019

School Safety: The Violence Project Speaks

Since the Columbine High School massacre in April 1999, education and public safety policy has emphasized situational crime prevention and law enforcement response in an effort to prevent shooting casualties. School security is now a multi-billion dollar industry. Yet, many of the alleged solutions to school shootings are expensive, dangerous, unproven, and incompatible with scientific… Read More »

Nov 25, 2019

Research reveals common traits behind mass shootings

The Violence Project's co-founder James Densley spoke with 9 News to discuss findings in the new Mass Shooter Database, specifically about mental health troubles and suicidality. Read the full article from 9 News here.

Nov 23, 2019

Our co-founder Jill Peterson appeared on Fox News' America's Newsroom

Watch her full interview with Bill Hemmer HERE.

Nov 22, 2019

No Mass Shootings in South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Maine, Vermont, and Delaware

"One map that South Dakota isn’t on is the Violence Project’s map of mass shootings. They count 171 instances over 50 years of killings of four or more people in public places by firearm and find no such events in South Dakota." The Dakota Free Press cited The Violence Project's data in an article that… Read More »

Nov 20, 2019

What Makes a Mass Shooter? New Study Stresses the Need for Prevention

"Beyond a desire for tighter firearm regulation, the Violence Project aims to focus on prevention: addressing the patterns surrounding gun violence in order to end it before it begins. This extensive database is definitely a step in the right direction." Source: We Are Mitú Author: Leah Scott

Nov 20, 2019

Minnesota Violence Project aims to understand mass shootings

Minnesota researchers have created a new database that seeks to help understand circumstances that contribute to mass shootings in the United States. Source: Associated Press Author: Associated Press Reprinted: US News and World Report and others.

Nov 20, 2019

New study on mass shootings explores the traits that define perpetrators

Mass shooters are widely feared but narrowly understood. The U.S. government is trying to change that. A new study funded by the Department of Justice has analyzed all mass shootings since 1966, exploring what the gunmen have in common. It’s the largest study of its type ever paid for by the U.S. government. Read More… Read More »

Nov 20, 2019

Local researchers release largest study on mass shootings

The Violence Project's Jill Peterson sat down with reporters at KSTP to discuss the largest study of mass shootings across the country. Looking closely at mental health, The Violence Project found that 80 percent of shooters showed signs of a crisis prior to the shooting. Read more here.

Nov 19, 2019

St. Paul profs compiled database of U.S. mass shooters … and corresponded with six of them

A pair of St. Paul criminology professors, with the help of a federal grant, have compiled a database on “mass shooters” in America — which they believe to be the most comprehensive in academia to date. Read about it here Source: Pioneer Press Author: Tad Vezner

Nov 19, 2019

Minnesota-made tool tracks the how and why behind mass shootings

A new database launched by Twin Cities researchers aims to help policymakers and the public understand the conditions that contribute to mass shooting incidents in the United States. Researchers with the nonpartisan Violence Project documented characteristics associated with 171 people who committed mass shootings, which was defined as shooting and killing four or more people in a public… Read More »

Nov 19, 2019

Nearly all mass shooters since 1966 have had 4 things in common

The largest study of mass shooters ever funded by the U.S. government reveals stunning information about perpetrators. Source: Vice News Authors David Noriega and Tess Owen You can also read about these findings from ABC Action News, Daily Mail, Public News Service, and DiversityInc. Updated January 1, 2020.

Nov 19, 2019

Press Release: Database of Mass Shooters Compiled by Hamline Students Released for Public Use

On November 19, 2019, The Violence Project, a nonpartisan think tank, will publicly release the largest, most comprehensive database of mass shooters in the United States. This new database, funded by the National Institute of Justice, the research arm of the U.S. Department of Justice, was developed by professors Jillian Peterson and James Densley and… Read More »

Nov 19, 2019

Santa Clarita School Shooter Fits Profile of Other K-12 Shooters, According to New Database

The Violence Project's co-founder James Densley was a guest on KQED News this morning. He joined Michael Krasny to discuss the Santa Clarita shooting, what we know about mass shooters, and whether gathering information can prevent acts of mass violence. Listen to the full 28-minute segment here. Source: KQED

Nov 18, 2019

Active-Shooter Security Drills Are ‘Ineffective,’ Researchers Find

Research published by The Violence Project's Jillian Peterson and James Densley was featured in an article discussing the ineffectiveness of active-shooter drills. Because school and workplace shooters are typically insiders, they are able to plan their attacks with security procedures in mind. Peterson and Densley recommend investment into mental health services and crisis intervention training,… Read More »

Nov 18, 2019

Raising Red Flags: Minnesota police chiefs and sheriffs weigh in on gun law

"Dozens of police chiefs and sheriffs around the state say they would support a controversial measure that would temporarily take guns away from people who are deemed a threat to themselves or others." KSTP reporters reached out to law enforcement leaders across the state to discuss whether these Red Flag laws would be helpful in… Read More »

Nov 16, 2019

Big Brain Energy: The psychology of 'No Notoriety'

In the wake of the Saugus High School shooting, The Daily Campus discusses the "No Notoriety" campaign. The campaign challenges reporters to make no reference to the shooter after a mass shooting, instead focusing on the community and victims. The Violence Project's Jillian Peterson told reporters, “There is this element of wanting notoriety in death… Read More »

Nov 15, 2019

Hamline, Metro State professors create a database to shed light on mass shooters

The Goal for the mass shooter database is prevention. Read more from the Start tribune here. Source: Star Tribune Author: Shannon Prather

Nov 15, 2019

Science has identified common threads in school shootings

Vern Pierson, the El Dorado County District Attorney, wrote a commentary in CalMatters discussing how to address mass shootings. He cited data from The Violence Project's mass shooter database, as well as prevention strategies recommended by Jillian Peterson and James Densley. "The crisis of mass shootings and school shootings is complex. But there also are… Read More »

Nov 15, 2019

Years of Research Finds That Most School Shooters Have 4 Things in Common

After a mass shooting at a school—or any other location—we are left with so many questions: Why was this school targeted? Was there anything anyone could do to stop it? Were there any clues in the shooter’s behavior that might point to why they resorted to this type of violence? Among those seeking answers are… Read More »

Nov 14, 2019

Can Mass Shooter Attacks Be Prevented?

A growing body of research on mass shootings has three new reports on who carries out such attacks and how—or whether—they can be prevented. Two university researchers supported by a grant from the National Institute of Justice have created a mass-shooter database going back more than 50 years, covering 171 shootings in which four or… Read More »

Nov 14, 2019

Why Nonprofits Can’t Research Gun Violence As Well As The Feds

Federal funding for gun-related research through the CDC and National Institutes of Health is limited by the Dickey Amendment, which bans the use of federal money to "advocate or promote gun control." However, this amendment doesn't restrict all federal funding. The Violence Project's co-founder James Densley commented on the impact of a grant from the… Read More »

Nov 14, 2019

There is no single profile of a mass shooter. Our data show there are five types.

To really understand the profiles of mass shooters, you have to look at where the crime took place. Attacks in churches are perpetrated by a different type of person than attacks in malls and restaurants. And attacks at schools are carried out by very different types depending on whether they are at colleges or high… Read More »

Nov 14, 2019

Mass shootings raise questions about security and training

Mass shooters who target schools and workplaces are typically insiders such as students or employees, calling into question the effectiveness of security measures and training, according to one of the most comprehensive studies of the subject. Read the article here Source: The Wall Street Journal Author: Zusha Elinson

Nov 13, 2019

Mass shootings are contagious. How can they be stopped?

“I think in many ways people view mass shootings as a part of American society in the way baseball, apple pie and the Fourth of July are,” says Jaclyn Schildkraut, associate professor of criminal justice at the State University of New York at Oswego and an expert on mass shootings. “It’s just something that’s expected… Read More »

Nov 5, 2019

Germany shooting livestreamed despite efforts by tech firms

The livestreamed video of Wednesday's deadly shooting in Halle, Germany has potentially been viewed by millions of people after being posted on the Twitch gaming platform. A Twitch spokesperson has said that "Twitch has a zero-tolerance policy against hateful conduct, and any act of violence is taken extremely seriously." After the Christchurch massacre was livestreamed… Read More »

Oct 10, 2019

What school shooters have in common

School shooters have four things in common and those four things present opportunities for intervention. Source: Education Week Authors: Jillian Peterson and James Densley

Oct 9, 2019

Gen Z, Millennials Twice as Concerned About Active Shooters as Baby Boomers, Survey Finds

Members of Gen Z and millennials are twice as concerned about mass shooters as baby boomers, according to a new survey commissioned by the software firm CentralSquare. The poll found that 46 percent of Gen Z-ers and 39 percent of millennials reported worrying about active shooters or armed assailants while out in public, compared with… Read More »

Oct 2, 2019

10 Undeniable Facts About Mass Shootings in America

Mass shootings have become such a regular fixture on the news that it has been difficult to stay on top of each new incident. In fact, according to a recent article in the New York Times, there have been 26 mass shootings in summer 2019 alone, leaving 126 people dead. Of course, it’s no secret… Read More »

Oct 1, 2019

Mass Shooter Database

How do we reduce mass shootings? In today's Academic Minute, Hamline University's Jillian Peterson looks into the data. Peterson is an assistant professor of criminal justice at Hamline. A transcript of this podcast can be found here. Listen to the Episode Source: Inside Higher Ed – Academic Minute

Sep 30, 2019

Companies can use VR to train employees for mass shootings. But should they?

"The shooter was a man: bald, wearing pants and a button-down shirt, standing in front of me in an office break room, firing a gun. Shots rang in my ears. A heartbeat thump-thumped around me. A high-pitched noise made it hard for me to think. Seconds later, I heard rapid breathing sounds. I had to… Read More »

Sep 25, 2019

Don’t let the mass shooters win

"Mass shootings are a serious problem. But we shouldn’t let fear of them take over our lives." Dylan Matthews from Vox discusses the panic stemming from terrorism and mass shootings, as well as the cases for and against raising the profile of mass shootings. He reached out to The Violence Project's Jillian Peterson to talk… Read More »

Sep 6, 2019

Report Details Stunning Amount Of Free Publicity Media Gives Mass Shooters

An op-ed published in The Los Angeles Times on Sunday documented the staggering amount of free media publicity that news organizations like CNN give mass shooters in the wake of tragedies and how that free publicity is driving the frequency and lethality of the tragedies. The article was authored by James Densley, a sociologist and… Read More »

Sep 2, 2019

We analyzed 53 years of mass shooting data. Attacks aren’t just increasing, they’re getting deadlier

If you look at mass shootings over time, two things are alarmingly clear: The attacks are becoming far more frequent and they are getting deadlier. Our society must rewrite the violence script to stop the contagion. Read More Source: Los Angeles Times Authors: James Densley and Jillian Peterson

Sep 1, 2019

Gun Violence in America: The Psychology of Mass Shooters

The Violence Project's Jillian Peterson joined Dr. Celine Gounder to discuss the psychology of mass shooters and findings from The Violence Project's mass shooter database. Listen to the Podcast Transcript available here. Source: In Sickness and In Health Podcast – Season 3, Episode 25 Length: 40 minutes

Sep 1, 2019

America can't just arrest its way out of a mass shooting epidemic, experts say

The weeks after gunmen in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio have been filled with accusations of people who allegedly threatened deadly shooting sprees. Over 20 people have been arrested since August 4th, both teenagers to adults. The Violence Project's Jillian Peterson commented on how these arrests can be both good and bad: "I think… Read More »

Aug 27, 2019

At least 30 arrested for mass shooting threats in past three weeks

Since 31 people were killed earlier this month in two mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, police say at least 30 individuals have been detained on threats of mass shootings. Of those arrested, more than half of the threats were made against schools, universities or hospitals. While not all of the threats… Read More »

Aug 26, 2019

Can anything be done to prevent gun violence at work?

Police arrested a disgruntled Long Beach Marriott cook this week after he allegedly relayed to a coworker his plans to shoot coworkers and hotel guests, according to reports. Authorities also uncovered a stockpile of firearms, ammunition and tactical gear at 37-year-old Rodolfo Montoya’s Huntington Beach home, police said. Montoya had “clear plans, intent and the… Read More »

Aug 25, 2019

Have police really thwarted more mass shootings since El Paso and Dayton, or are we just paying closer attention?

With mass shootings becoming more prevalent in the mainstream media, it is important to look into these threats and take them seriously. “In 80% of the mass shooting cases that we studied the person leaked their plans ahead of time and made a specific threat,” Jillian Peterson, an assistant professor of criminology and Criminal Justice… Read More »

Aug 23, 2019

We can address mass shootings by reducing childhood trauma and mitigating its impact

Mass shootings have our nation once more desperately searching for answers to difficult questions. How could they have been prevented? Some question whether prevention is within our reach. This question sparks debate around issues such as the proliferation of guns in America, hateful political ideologies, violence in video games and movies, and mental health issues… Read More »

Aug 23, 2019

Why it’s wrong to blame mass killings on mental illness

Findings from The Violence Project's Drs. Jillian Peterson and James Densley were published in Meg Kisinger's article about mass shooters and mental illness. Read her article here. Source: Columbia Journalism Review Author: Meg Kissinger

Aug 16, 2019

Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children/The Violence Project

The Violence Project's Dr. Jillian Peterson appeared on a Smart Talk radio broadcast to discuss the four commonalities between mass shooters. Her discussion of mass shooters follows a conversation with Kari King, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children. Listen to the broadcast here. Source: Smart Talk

Aug 15, 2019

Do mass shooters share common traits?

The Violence Project's research into commonalities between mass shooters was highlighted by KFOX TV. View the segment or read more here. Source: KFOX TV Author: John Purvis

Aug 15, 2019

Can Teachers Be Trained to Prevent Future School Shootings? Researchers Say Yes

Most school shooters are current or former students. Most are suicidal. And most share their plans in advance. These are among the key findings of The Violence Project, a research effort examining 50 years of mass shootings in the U.S. The project’s insights have been cited widely in news stories in the wake of recent… Read More »

Aug 15, 2019

Why Isn’t There Already An Algorithm to Predict School Shooters?

The Violence Project's data was featured in an article by Ira Israel about how we identify mass shooters before they start shooting. Israel highlighted the variables our database features, facts about school shooters from Dr. Jillian Peterson's Ted Talk, and the commonality of mass shooters to experience childhood trauma. "Doctors Peterson and Densley have all… Read More »

Aug 14, 2019

Active shooter drills have become common in Pittsburgh-area schools but mental health effects remain unknown

Ellie Miller knows to arm herself if her school is under attack. She is 8. In fall 2018, Miller’s third-grade class learned what to do in case an active shooter invaded her school. She says her teacher instructed her to pick up a nearby object. This object, whatever it may be, would be Miller’s last… Read More »

Aug 14, 2019

Active Shooter Drills Can Harm Participants' Mental Health

On today’s program: Pennsylvania's attorney general marks one year since the release of a grand jury report exposing widespread clergy abuse; how sidewalks form an overlooked part of Pittsburgh’s transportation network; a school security expert examines the effectiveness of current protections, and a panel weighs in on the harmful effects of active shooter drills in… Read More »

Aug 14, 2019

What Are Warning Signs Of Mass Violence, And What Should We Do When We See Them?

After two mass shootings on the same day in two separate American cities, some are talking about whether warning signs were missed. We talk to a psychologist about what behaviors actually are warning signs, and what we should do if we see them. Listen to the segment on Wisconsin Public Radio here. Source: Wisconsin Public… Read More »

Aug 12, 2019

How suicide prevention may help stop mass killers before they start shooting

A potential predictor of mass shootings is suicidality. Dr. Jillian Peterson shared that her latest analysis showed that 80 percent of the perpetrators were suicidal before the shooting, which she says it is key to understanding their actions. “In every case, this was intended to be their final act. They are murders, but they are… Read More »

Aug 11, 2019

The making of a mass shooter: What contributes to a killer opening fire on strangers?

The New Zealand Herald examined findings from The Violence Project's research into potential warning signs of mass shootings. They quote Drs. Peterson and Densley's op-ed in the Los Angeles Times discussing the four common traits between mass shooters. Read their coverage of our findings here. Source: New Zealand Herald Author: Shannon Molloy

Aug 11, 2019

'Modern gun' or weapon of war? Carnage heightens scrutiny of popular, widely available assault rifles

Thousands of semiautomatic, military-style rifles filter out of Garrett Streitz’s gun manufacturing business every year, and there’s no shortage of people who want to buy one. “It’s just the modern gun,” said Streitz, who owns Alex Pro Firearms in Alexandria, Minn. To others, they are weapons of war whose lethality was again put on grim… Read More »

Aug 11, 2019

Trying to understand and prevent mass shootings

Whenever there’s a mass shooting, like the three last week, we ask ourselves two questions: Why? And, how can we keep it from happening again? The Violence Project, a nonpartisan think tank, strives to answer those questions. Under a grant from the National Institute of Justice, the research arm of the U.S. Department of Justice,… Read More »

Aug 10, 2019

A Common Trait Among Mass Killers: Hatred Toward Women

“They’re angry and they’re suicidal and they’ve had traumatic childhoods and these hard lives, and they get to a point and they find something or someone to blame,” said Jillian Peterson, a psychologist and a founder of the Violence Project, a research organization that studies mass shootings. “For some people, that is women, and we… Read More »

Aug 10, 2019

Lost in Life, El Paso Suspect Found a Dark World Online

The family of Patrick Crusius, the alleged gunman in El Paso’s mass shooting, worried he was a little lost, with few friends, but thought he wasn’t any more aimless than many others his age, said family lawyer Christopher Ayres. When Mr. Crusius discussed current events, history and politics with his grandfather, with whom he lived… Read More »

Aug 8, 2019

Guns, Hate, and Inaction: Ken Rudin's Political Junkie Episode #289

The horrific acts of gun violence in El Paso and Dayton sound awfully familiar, and so has been the political reaction. As for the argument that this is more a mental health issue than a gun issue, Jillian Peterson, a psychology professor at Hamline University, talks about the mindset of those who commit gun crimes…. Read More »

Aug 8, 2019

Mass Shootings and Mental Illness: A Teaching Moment?

In the wake of last weekend's mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas, President Donald Trump cited "mentally ill monsters," as a source of violence in a press briefing Monday. "We must reform our mental health laws to better identify mentally disturbed individuals who may commit acts of violence and make sure those… Read More »

Aug 8, 2019

Daily Bulletin: The FBI Opened a Domestic Terror Investigation into the Gilroy Shooting

The Violence Project's op-ed in the Los Angeles Times was cited in The Trace's Daily Bulletin this morning. Read the full bulletin here. Source: The Trace

Aug 7, 2019

Here’s what we know about the suspected gunmen in the El Paso, Dayton shootings

In the aftermath of two deadly mass shootings, The Violence Project's co-founder James Densley spoke with reporters at Global News on Tuesday about how to identify mass shooters and prevent future shootings. Urging people to recognize warning signs of a person being in crisis, Densley says, "If we’re a little bit more attuned to when… Read More »

Aug 6, 2019

Mass shootings can be contagious, research shows

Are mass shootings truly contagious? According to expert, Dr. Jillian Peterson, it's a form of social contagion, somewhat like a suicide contagion – that's when a high-profile suicide leads to more people to take their own lives. For example, following the suicide of actor Robin Williams, researchers documented a 10% spike in suicides in the… Read More »

Aug 6, 2019

Video game makers face backlash after El Paso shooting

In the aftermath of Saturday's mass shooting in El Paso, President Donald Trump placed blame on video game makers, seeking to link games like "Call of Duty" with a rise in gun violence. Fears of a backlash against the industry sent shares of game developers tumbling on Monday While gaming companies recovered some that lost… Read More »

Aug 6, 2019

Violence Project Seeks To Shift Focus From Reaction To Prevention In Mass Shootings

The Violence Project's Jillian Peterson spoke with reporters from WCCO news after appearing on CBS This Morning. They discussed Dr. Peterson's research and findings about common risk factors. Watch the segment or read about it here. Source: WCCO News Author: Kate Raddatz

Aug 6, 2019

Watch: Common traits like childhood trauma, behavioral changes link mass shooters

The Violence Project has studied every U.S. mass shooting since 1966. Its database, which is not publicly available yet, includes 160 mass shooters who have killed four or more people in a public place. Nearly all were male and the average age was 34-years-old. The study found most shooters shared common traits, like experiencing childhood… Read More »

Aug 6, 2019

Grievances, access to guns, notoriety associated with shootings

The Violence Project's finding that mass shooters usually have four common characteristics was quoted in Paul Scott's article following the shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. Drs. Peterson and Densley's research was featured alongside remarks from Grant Duwe, a researcher at the Minnesota Bureau of Corrections and national authority on mass murder in… Read More »

Aug 6, 2019

What will prevent white nationalist attacks?

The Violence Project's Jillian Peterson and James Densley were quoted in Yahoo News 360's article on mass violence prevention. “Proactive violence prevention starts with schools, colleges, churches and employers initiating conversations about mental health and establishing systems for identifying individuals in crisis, reporting concerns and reaching out — not with punitive measures but with resources… Read More »

Aug 6, 2019

Four Things Most Mass Shooters Have in Common

The Trump Administration is funding studies of mass shooters in the United States. Right now, researchers are combing through a trove of social media and historical data to find similarities among these individuals. One of the researchers, James Densley from The Violence Project, joins Cheddar Business to explain his findings. Watch Here Source: Cheddar

Aug 6, 2019

Mental Illness isn’t main driver of mass shootings, experts say

Dr. Jillian Peterson shares The Violence Project’s research on mass shootings and the four key commonalities that perpetrators have: (1) early childhood trauma and exposure to violence at a young age; (2) an identifiable grievance or crisis point; (3) validation for their beliefs, having studied past shootings to find inspiration; and (4) the means to… Read More »

Aug 6, 2019

Shootings Tied to White Extremists On Rise, Workplace Shootings More Common

The Violence Project's research into mass shootings was highlighted by NBC News this evening. They also spoke with civil rights attorney James McElroy about the annual increase in mass shootings. Read the article here. Source: NBC San Diego

Aug 5, 2019

What pushes people to carry out mass shootings, and what can be done to stop them?

The Violence Project's James Densley joined Don Lemon on CNN Tonight to discuss the recent mass shootings. He also discussed the commonalities among shooters, and what we can do to prevent more. View the archival footage here Source: CNN Tonight

Aug 5, 2019

Politicians suggest video games are to blame for the El Paso shooting. It’s an old claim that’s not backed by research.

“It’s become a script,” said James Densley, co-founder of The Violence Project. “People have said it so many times that because we have so many of these tragedies, it’s become routine by now. The same old tropes keep getting revisited.” Read the full article from the Washington Post here. Source: Washington Post Author: Timothy Bella

Aug 5, 2019

What do we know about mass shooters?

The Violence Project's co-founder Jillian Peterson spoke with Angela Davis in the wake of back-to-back mass shootings this weekend. Their discussion covered the motivations behind these shootings and potential steps towards prevention. Listen to the radio segment from All Things Considered and the Angela Davis Show here. Source: MPR News

Aug 5, 2019

Why Many Mass Shooters Are ‘Loners’

The man accused of killing 22 people and injuring dozens more at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, this weekend was an “extreme loner” who was “picked on” for his voice and his clothes, the Los Angeles Times reported. The lonely life of the suspect, who is widely reported to be 21-year-old Patrick Crusius of… Read More »

Aug 5, 2019

Mass Shooters Seek ‘Validation’ For Their Murderous Attacks, Say Experts For DOJ

Many mass shooters are seeking out validation and notoriety for their murderous crimes, according to researchers studying the history of mass shootings for the Justice Department. Perpetrators are inspired by other mass shooters and study previous shootings, so much so that the crimes can become “socially contagious,” Jillian Peterson and James Densely wrote Sunday in… Read More »

Aug 5, 2019

Mass shootings: Experts say violence is contagious, and 24/7 news cycle doesn't help

"In a nation that has sometimes become numb to mass shootings, people are shaken. Weekend massacres in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, have many looking for ways to stop the carnage, whether through stricter gun control laws, better mental health services or shutting down certain social media platforms. As research suggests that violence, particularly… Read More »

Aug 5, 2019

'Do something!': Mass shootings in Texas and Ohio stun nation: The Morning Rundown

Good morning, NBC News readers. Two mass shootings this weekend — that took place less than 13 hours apart — left at least 29 dead and 53 injured. In their wake, the country is reeling from yet more gruesome scenes of violence and death. Read The Morning Rundown here Source: NBC News Author: Petra Cahill

Aug 5, 2019

We have studied every mass shooting since 1966. Here’s what we’ve learned about the shooters.

The key to preventing mass shootings lies in understanding what the perpetrators have in common: (1) early childhood trauma and exposure to violence at a young age; (2) an identifiable grievance or crisis point; (3) validation for their beliefs, having studied past shootings to find inspiration; and (4) the means to carry out an attack…. Read More »

Aug 4, 2019

Evaluation of ‘the R-Model’ crisis intervention de-escalation training for law enforcement

This study presents findings from a process and outcome evaluation of a custom crisis intervention and de-escalation training for law enforcement, delivered in-house to a suburban Minnesota police department (the R-Model: Research, Respond, Refer). Individual officer survey data showed the R-Model significantly decreased stigma and increased self-reported knowledge of mental health resources over baseline. Knowledge… Read More »

Jul 30, 2019

Aggression Detectors: The Unproven, Invasive Surveillance Technology Schools Are Using to Monitor Students

"In response to mass shootings, some schools and hospitals are installing microphones equipped with algorithms. The devices purport to identify stress and anger before violence erupts. Our testing found them less than reliable." The Violence Project's Jillian Peterson commented on the practicality of these devices, saying, "I can’t imagine when it would be useful, honestly."… Read More »

Jun 25, 2019

School shootings: What administrators need to know

An analysis of 46 active shooters in schools revealed several common characteristics they tend to share. The majority of active shooters were current or former members of the school, were in crisis and suicidal before the shooting, acquired guns by borrowing or stealing them from friends or family, and the majority of shooters leaked their… Read More »

Jun 7, 2019

The Health 202: Trump blamed mental illness for mass shootings. The reality is more complicated.

Mental illness is just one of many factors in why someone might open fire. But talking about the El Paso and Dayton tragedies in a nuanced way isn’t exactly one of President Trump’s strong suits. He largely blamed mental ailments for being the root cause of mass shootings, while backing away from an initial tweeted… Read More »

Jun 6, 2019

How Can We Prevent Workplace Shootings?

The country is reeling after an employee at Virginia Beach Municipal Center opened fire in the building, killing 12 people and wounding several others. The Violence Project's Jillian Peterson sat down with Joshua Johnson to discuss her research on workplace shootings. Listen to their discussion of violence prevention here. Source: National Public Radio – 1A… Read More »

Jun 4, 2019

Colorado shooting eerily recalls Columbine massacre

A few weeks after the 20-year anniversary of the Columbine massacre, the nation is grappling with yet another school shooting. The Violence Project founders Jill Peterson and James Densley used their research into mass shootings to show the similarities between the recent tragedy and Columbine. The two shootings were both committed by two school insiders… Read More »

May 9, 2019

Many campus shootings have similarities. Studying them might prevent more tragedy, researchers say.

Over the past half-century, more than 70 percent of campus shootings happened near the end of the school year. Tuesday’s shooting at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, in which two students lost their lives, was no exception as it took place on the last day of classes. While the UNC Charlotte incident doesn’t… Read More »

May 3, 2019

University of North Carolina at Charlotte shooting has these things in common with other campus shootings

The Violence Project's founders Jill Peterson and James Densley wrote an article in The Conversation examining the University of North Carolina at Charlotte shooting and comparing it to prior campus shootings across the country. Peterson and Densley review common characteristics of campus shooters, from demographics to childhood trauma. Their analysis suggests red flag laws and… Read More »

May 2, 2019

School shootings didn’t start in 1999 at Columbine. Here’s why that disaster became a blueprint for other killers and created the ‘Columbine Generation’

Why did the April 20, 1999, mass shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado become a blueprint for future shooters? After all, it was hardly the first time that shootings took place on school campuses. This post looks into how “society and culture have reared a Columbine generation,” and what role the media played. Read… Read More »

Apr 18, 2019

Experts: Minnesota’s strategy on school gun attacks wrong

In order to prevent school shootings, Minnesota lawmakers direct funds and policy towards school lockdown drills and security infrastructure. The Violence Project's co-founders Jillian Peterson and James Densley believe this approach is inadequate in actually preventing school shootings. Rather than lockdown drills, Peterson argues for putting more money into mental health support in schools. She… Read More »

Mar 30, 2019

Current school safety measures aren't enough to prevent shootings

The Violence Project's co-founder James Densley sat down with Manda Lillie and Angela Davis to discuss school shooting prevention. Densley said he would like to see "the conversation move away from lockdown culture." Their conversation also included Rick Kaufman, head of the Columbine crisis-response team. Kaufman and Densley agreed that there needs to be more… Read More »

Mar 29, 2019

School safety: Fund more counselors for students’ emotional health

While there’s a renewed push to boost spending on school safety through more locks and tighter security to fortify schools, a new study of school shootings suggests that will not be enough to prevent future school shootings. An in-depth study of 45 school shootings since the Columbine High School shooting of 20 years ago shows… Read More »

Mar 28, 2019

Daily Digest: School Safety and Guns

Good morning and happy Thursday. Here's the Digest. 1. Researchers say a fresh approach to school safety is needed. Lockdown drills top the list of security measures Jillian Peterson believes schools need to drop. Peterson, a Hamline University criminology professor, thinks training the adults in school on lockdown procedures, de-escalation and suicide prevention should happen… Read More »

Mar 28, 2019

Terrorism is a performance. Don't watch. And, Facebook, stop making us.

"They want you to watch." James Densley and Jill Peterson write about how the prevalence of violence in the media serves terrorists' interests in spreading destruction. The widespread use of social media platforms paved the way for the mass shooting of 50 worshipers to be livestreamed on Facebook: a performance of violence for the world…. Read More »

Mar 18, 2019

We can do more to prevent mass workplace shootings like Aurora, Illinois

Since the Columbine High School shooting in 1999, violence prevention has largely targeted schools. Lockdown drills, arming teachers, metal detectors, and evacuation plans are just some of the strategies form for schools. Meanwhile, there have been four times as many mass shootings in workplaces. There have been almost 50 workplace shooters in the past 50… Read More »

Feb 21, 2019

One year after Parkland, are Americans equipped to prevent school shootings?

Thursday marks the one year anniversary of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. Since then, there have been six school shootings in the U.S., including one at Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore on Feb. 7. A recent study from CNN found that since 2009 the U.S. has had 57 times… Read More »

Feb 13, 2019

School shooters usually show these signs of distress long before they open fire, our database shows

One of the biggest challenges schools face when averting school shootings is recognizing and acting upon warning signs. School shooters almost always give warning signs well before opening fire. The majority showed signs of a crisis and leaked their plans ahead of time on social media. The Violence Project's founders Jill Peterson and James Densley… Read More »

Feb 8, 2019

MN researchers' mass shooter database gets federal funding

The Violence Project's Jillian Peterson spoke with reporters at Kare 11 about the risk factors for mass shooters. While there was no pattern, the number of risk factors people experienced before a mass shooting was consistent. There was also often a trigger before the shooting, and suicidality was common among mass shooters. Dr. Peterson also… Read More »

Nov 12, 2018

Researchers: Suicidal Behavior Precedes Mass Shootings, But No Real Pattern

Hamline University hosted a presentation on mass shooters Friday night. Hamline assistant professor Dr. Jillian Peterson and Dr. James Densley from Metropolitan State University spoke about their research study. Along with a team of Hamline students, they created a database of 150 mass shooters, based on 50 life variables. “What we found is unfortunately there… Read More »

Nov 10, 2018

Study Could Soon Bring Student Researchers Face-to-Face With Mass Shooters

Dr. Jillian Peterson and Dr. James Densley are leading a team of student researchers in studying mass shootings. A recent grant from the US Department of Justice will allow the research team to interview five living mass shooters and people from their communities. They plan to discuss their initial findings at an event on Hamline's… Read More »

Nov 8, 2018

Is Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training evidence-based practice? A systematic review

This study reviews 25 empirical research articles that have examined the impact of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training over the past 10 years. Overall, little can be said about the effectiveness of CIT training due to varying outcomes, a reliance on self-report data, lack of comparison or control groups, and inadequate follow-up data. Results of… Read More »

Jul 9, 2018

Local researchers compile mass shooting database

The Violence Project's co-founders Jillian Peterson and James Densley sat down with Jana Shortal to discuss initial findings from their mass shooter database. The two talk about the difficulties of creating a profile of a mass shooter, commonalities between shooters, and the relationship of mental health and suicidality to mass shooters. Watch the interview here… Read More »

Jul 3, 2018

Active Shooter Drills are Traumatizing a Generation

Active shooter drills are designed to prepare staff and students for a school shooting. These drills are practiced in the name of safety and to set parents' minds at ease about sending their children to school. The Violence Project's Jillian Peterson discusses the risk of contagion that accompanies mass shootings and active shooter drills, as… Read More »

May 1, 2018

Police crisis intervention training: We need a new paradigm, not a new building

Two proposed multimillion-dollar law enforcement training centers are competing for funding at the Legislature. One of these facilities, the $13.2 million Dakota County Safety and Mental Health Alternative Response Training (SMART) Center, would be dedicated to crisis intervention training. We applaud any and all efforts to properly fund law enforcement and improve officer training. However,… Read More »

Mar 23, 2018

"Now I have to go back to where my friends were killed": the hard return to school of a young Venezuelan woman after the Parkland shooting

Two weeks after the shooting that left 17 dead, students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School returned to classes on Wednesday. On the return, BBC Mundo accompanied one of the survivors. This is her account and this is the story of the first day of school after the massacre. Read the full article here. Source:… Read More »

Feb 28, 2018

Group Aggression

Group aggression is an important concern for societies around the world. The field of intergroup relations, a sub-field of social-psychology, offers critical insight into the emergence of group conflict and aggression. This review examines the most influential theoretical frameworks from the field of intergroup relations, namely realistic conflict theory, relative deprivation theory, social identity theory,… Read More »

Feb 28, 2018

Why the usual approach to school security isn’t working

Mass shootings are becoming increasingly deadly. Recent studies have demonstrated that active shooter drills may increase anxiety and fear among students, as well as contribute to a negative school culture, which is a risk factor for school violence. Data indicates that before mass violence takes place, there is typically an immediate trigger in the perpetrator's… Read More »

Feb 16, 2018

Minnesota incident included in 2018 U.S. school-shooting total shouldn't be, police official says

Eighteen. That’s the number repeated across airwaves and on websites after Wednesday’s deadly Florida school shooting, as it was called the 18th one in the United States in 2018. That statistic lumped the Parkland, Fla., incident, where a student armed with an AR-15 killed 17 people, with one Minnesota incident. On Feb. 5, a third-grader… Read More »

Feb 15, 2018

Mass shootings aren't more frequent, but they are deadlier

It can sometimes seem as though mass shootings are occurring more frequently. Researchers who have been studying such crimes for decades say they aren't, but they have been getting deadlier. In the five years since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at a Connecticut elementary school, the nation has seen a number of… Read More »

Dec 11, 2017

'This shooter is a little different': Hamline professor studies mass shootings

Professor Jillian Peterson spoke with John Wanamaker on MPR about the differences between the Las Vegas gunman and other mass shooters she has studied. Dr. Peterson is working with Professor James Densley to better understand why mass shootings happen and ways to prevent them. Listen to the segment on MPR here. The Associated Press published… Read More »

Oct 8, 2017

Hamline team researches the 'why' behind mass shootings

The Violence Project's Jillian Peterson sat down with Jana Shortal to discuss her research into mass shooters. As opposed to looking at mass shootings individually, Peterson and a team of students are looking at more than 25 years of mass shootings to compile a list of 130 mass shooters and identify commonalities. "When we try… Read More »

Oct 3, 2017

How common are mass shootings?

"The massacre in Las Vegas is being called the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. To some, it seems like these tragedies happen more often. But do they?" The Violence Project's Jillian Peterson spoke with Heather Brown about the different ways to define mass shootings and how those definitions impact how common they are…. Read More »

Oct 2, 2017

Trying to make sense of mass shootings

Dr. Jill Peterson sat down with Jana Shortal to discuss how to process mass shootings. "I think as we get hit with more of these events, they're happening over and over and over again, it's human. You have to let the shock wear off. It's not going to hit you in the same way. We… Read More »

Oct 2, 2017

How social media sends extremism into overdrive

The Violence Project's Jillian Peterson and James Densley wrote an article for CNN about how social media enables extremism. They examine how extreme groups coalesce and organize through social media, and what we can do to prevent it. "Let's stop being the audience the extremists want. If we walk out of the show, the extremists… Read More »

Aug 23, 2017

Verdict in police shooting of Philando Castile: The fear defense should have us all afraid

Why? Because it's emotional, not a rational assessment of danger. And police officers are trained to be particularly susceptible. Drs. James Densley and Jillian Peterson argue that because the fear defense is an expression of emotion rather than logic, the law needs to be changed. Bulletproof facts struggle to win debates or sway opinions on… Read More »

Jun 21, 2017

Peer-Reviewed

Cyber violence: What do we know and where do we go from here?

This paper reviews the existing literature on the relationship between social media and violence, including prevalence rates, typologies, and the overlap between cyber and in-person violence. This review explores the individual-level correlates and risk factors associated with cyber violence, the group processes involved in cyber violence, and the macro-level context of online aggression. The paper… Read More »

May 31, 2017

Why the trend of posting gruesome acts online?

Police have found the suspect who shot and killed an elderly victim and posted footage of the deed on Facebook. He took his own life before he could be taken into custody. His act was yet another example of a new trend — “performance violence” on social media. From the live torture of a mentally… Read More »

Apr 19, 2017

Healing from Violence

Dr. Jillian Peterson appeared on Fox 9 News to discuss how to heal after mass violence. She spoke about mental illness, law enforcement, grief, and the importance of productive conversations. Watch the interview here. Source: Fox 9 News

Jul 10, 2016

Local Expert provides insight into mass shootings

The Violence Project's Jillian Peterson spoke with reporters at Fox 9 News about the recent mass shooting in Orlando. She discussed the difficulty in predicting lone-wolf mass shootings, the role of social media, and healing after mass violence. Read the full article here.

Jun 13, 2016

How mass shootings became our norm

The image of students running from Columbine High School was seared into the mind of those old enough to understand it. That image, of people running from a shooter, would repeat over and over again all across America. “I think we are at the point where we as a society are sick of it and… Read More »

Jun 13, 2016