Recognize the Possible Signs of a Shooter

The Sandy Hook Promise Foundation recently released this video showing the possible signs of a shooter within the context of teenage drama. If you haven’t watched it yet, you should. We’ll wait.

Did you watch it? Good. The message it conveys is too important to miss. That message? Pay attention.

It’s easy to get distracted by the drama of our lives and even just the ordinary details we deal with every day. But, sometimes we need to look past those details. Watch for the signs of a possible shooter within your school and if you see something? Say something.

But, what should we watch for? The video touches on some things to look out for, behaviors that may be signs of a possible shooter, and we’ve outlined a few of those, and some others, below.

Though, it’s important to know these signs on their own don’t always add up to a shooter. Even all the signs combined may not mean a student is going to come to school with a gun one day. The point of being aware of these signs is simply to be ready. Be aware of what your students are up to and reach out if you think a student is hurting, confused, or considering violence of any kind.

Isolation

If we look closely at the video, we see a boy who is almost always alone.New Scientist claims that loneliness is bad for health and it’s quickly becoming an epidemic in this country. In a world where itseems like we are constantly in contact with someone via Facebook, text messages or other social media,real, quality interactions get pushed to the back burner. And sometimes even being surrounded by people doesn’t mean students aren’t feeling lonely. Watch for the students that hang to the side, that don’t laugh with their friends or that seem to always be on the perimeter.

Bullying

Obviously, not all students who are bullied will become a shooter. But, if they are often bullied and also exhibit troubling behaviors such as lack of interest in school, friends, or activities and are often alone, it may be worth reaching out to them simply to make sure they are ok. If they are bullied and also feel alone or lost they may feel the need to lash out.

Fascination or Obsession

Some students may show an unusual interest in or have an extreme fascination with past shooting incidents or guns in general. They may spend time online, like in the video, researching guns or reading up on past incidents. They may do book reports or give presentations on past shooters, all while displaying admirations for their actions. Again, not all students who show an interest in guns will eventually commit a shooting, but it’s worth paying attention to what they are saying or the actions they are displaying.

“Leakage”

A phenomenon known as “leakage”  indicates that often, a shooter will tell someone what they are planning but are simply not believed. No one wants to believe that someone they know is capable of that kind of violence so even an outright confession will often be ignored. If a student reaches out and hints at a violent act, believe them. Make sure other students to know to listen for troubling conversations and report them even they think they are just silly conversations. Never stop teaching, “See something, Say Something.”

This is not a comprehensive list of all the possible signs of a shooter. And, again, seeing these sign does not mean that a student will, in fact, commit a violent act. But, with so much at stake, why not keep an extra out? Why not reach out to a kid who seems lonely or gets bullied? Take the advice of the Sandy Hook video and look past the every day at the signs you may not be paying attention to.