Romantic Partners Relatives

Definition box: known or knowable types include employees, customers, and partners or relatives

The Known or Knowable definition box lists current or former employees; regular or notable customers, clients, patients, or visitors; and current or former romantic partners or relatives of individuals connected to the organization as common types.

Common types of individuals that are known or knowable to a workplace include current or former employees; regular or notable customers, clients, patients, or visitors; and the current or former romantic partners or relatives of individuals connected to the organization.

• Key Terms
• Known Or Knowable
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 12 Part 1: Mass Attacks at Workplaces

Divorce-dispute shooter: three-hour standoff with demands to reform divorce asset division

A three-hour standoff followed, during which the attacker repeatedly called dispatch demanding reform in how assets are divided during divorce.

A three-hour long standoff ensued, and the attacker called dispatch multiple times, demanding reform in how assets are divided during divorce.

• Incident Resolution
• Incidents
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 13 The Incidents

Divorce-dispute shooter went to his wife's workplace to demand she sign divorce papers

The incident began when the attacker drove to his wife's workplace to demand that she sign divorce papers.

The incident started when the attacker drove to his wife's workplace to demand she sign divorce papers.

• Domestic Violence
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 13 The Incidents

Some attackers' violence against partners or relatives led to protective orders

Some attackers engaged in violence directed at romantic partners or relatives, prompting victims to seek protective or restraining orders.

some attackers engaged in violence directed at romantic partners or relatives, prompting victims to seek protective orders or restraining orders against the attackers

• Domestic Violence
• Elicited Concern
• Protective Orders
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 16 The Attackers

Elementary school shooting by man with two-decade domestic violence history

A 53-year-old man killed his estranged wife and one of her students in her classroom, injuring another student, before dying by suicide. He had two decades of domestic violence, including threats to kill, and multiple people had filed restraining orders against him.

A 53-year-old man arrived at the elementary school where his estranged wife worked

• Domestic Violence
• Elicited Concern
• Protective Orders
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 16 The Attackers

Elementary school shooter: motivated after estranged wife left home three months earlier

The attacker was motivated to shoot after his estranged wife moved out three months earlier and refused his attempts to force her return.

The attacker was motivated to engage in the shooting after his estranged wife moved out of his home three months earlier and refused his attempts to force her return.

• Domestic Violence
• Grievances
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 16 The Attackers

School shooter fired ten shots, killing his wife and a student and injuring another

At his estranged wife's classroom, the man fired ten shots from a revolver, killing his wife and one of her students and injuring another student before dying by suicide.

When he arrived at her classroom, the man drew a revolver and fired ten shots into the classroom, killing his wife and one of her students and injuring another student before dying by suicide.

• Domestic Violence
• Impact Casualties
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 16 The Attackers

18% of attackers were romantic partners or relatives of connected individuals (n = 9)

A smaller number of attackers (n = 9, 18%) were current or former romantic partners or relatives of individuals connected to the targeted site.

Sample (n = 9 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types

a smaller number (n = 9, 18%) were current or former romantic partners or relatives of individuals connected to the targeted site

• Affiliation To Target
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 17 The Attackers

Nine attacks were perpetrated by current or former romantic partners or relatives

There were nine attacks perpetrated by current or former romantic partners or relatives of individuals connected to the targeted site.

There were nine attacks perpetrated by attackers who were current or former romantic partners or relatives of individuals connected to the targeted site

• Attackers
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 25 Romantic Partners and Relatives

All nine attacks in this group were carried out by a lone attacker

Each of these attackers carried out their attack alone.

Each of these attackers carried out their attack alone

• Incidents
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 25 Romantic Partners and Relatives

All nine attackers in this group were male

All nine attackers in this group were male.

All nine attackers were male

• Demographics
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 25 Romantic Partners and Relatives

Attackers in this group were 27 to 58 years old, averaging 43

Ages ranged from 27 to 58 years old, and the average age was 43 years.

Ages ranged from 27 to 58 years old, and the average age was 43 years

• Demographics
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 25 Romantic Partners and Relatives

All but one (n = 8, 89%) of these attacks were motivated at least partly by grievance

All but one of these attacks (n = 8, 89%) were motivated, in whole or in part, by a grievance.

Sample (n = 8 of 9) · attacks by current or former romantic partners or relatives (9 attacks, each by a lone attacker)

All but one of these attacks (n = 8, 89%) were motivated, in whole or in part, by a grievance

• Grievances
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 25 Romantic Partners and Relatives

Key finding: 89% of incidents were motivated by grievances

The key findings box reports that 89% of incidents were motivated by grievances.

Sample (n = 8 of 9) · attacks by current or former romantic partners or relatives (9 attacks, each by a lone attacker)

89% of incidents were motivated by grievances

• Grievances
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 25 Romantic Partners and Relatives

Seven attacks involved grievances about a domestic matter with a romantic partner

Most attacks (n = 7) involved grievances about a domestic matter involving a romantic partner.

most attacks (n = 7) involved grievances about a domestic matter involving a romantic partner

• Grievances
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 25 Romantic Partners and Relatives

Six attackers targeted estranged or former partners at their workplaces

Six attackers targeted their estranged or former romantic partners at their places of employment.

This includes six attackers who targeted their estranged or former romantic partners at their places of employment

• Current Former Employees
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 25 Romantic Partners and Relatives

Two of six attackers also struck other locations, including a divorce attorney

Two of the six also attacked other locations, one targeting his wife's divorce attorney at the attorney's law office. A separate domestic-grievance attacker targeted divorce attorneys and mental health professionals who had evaluated his child during a custody dispute.

another attacker who targeted his wife's divorce attorney at the attorney's law office

• Current Former Employees
• Grievances
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 25 Romantic Partners and Relatives

Gunman killed ex-girlfriend and coworker at her healthcare workplace despite protection order

A gunman took hostages outside a healthcare center where his ex-girlfriend worked, shot and killed a police chief, then fatally shot his ex-girlfriend and her coworker before dying by suicide. He had assaulted and threatened her multiple times, and one protection order was still in place at the time of the attack.

In the months prior to the incident, he had assaulted and threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend multiple times

• Attackers
• Domestic Violence
• Grievances
• Protective Orders
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 25 Romantic Partners and Relatives

Over three-quarters (78%) had threatened partners or relatives before attacking

Over three-quarters (n = 7, 78%) of these attackers had threatened romantic partners or family members and engaged in at least one act of domestic violence before the attack.

Sample (n = 7 of 9) · attacks by current or former romantic partners or relatives (9 attacks, each by a lone attacker)

over three-quarters of these attackers (n = 7, 78%) had a history of making threatening statements toward romantic partners or family members

• Domestic Violence
• Romantic Partners Relatives
• Threats Communications

cite page 25 Romantic Partners and Relatives

Key finding: 78% of attackers had a history of domestic violence

The key findings box reports that 78% of attackers had a history of domestic violence.

Sample (n = 7 of 9) · attacks by current or former romantic partners or relatives (9 attacks, each by a lone attacker)

78% of attackers had a history of domestic violence

• Domestic Violence
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 25 Romantic Partners and Relatives

Two attackers had family ties to employees at the targeted location

Two attackers had familial relationships with one or more employees of the targeted location, including an estranged attacker who targeted a restaurant owned by his nephews and a psychotic attacker who fired at a bar owned by his cousin.

Two attackers had familial relationships with one or more employees of their targeted location

• Affiliation To Target
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 25 Romantic Partners and Relatives

Healthcare-facility shooter had abused at least one other woman before

The attacker had a lengthy history of violence and had abused at least one other woman in the past.

The attacker had a lengthy history of violence and had abused at least one other woman in the past.

• Domestic Violence
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 25 Romantic Partners and Relatives

Percentages in the partners-and-relatives section are based on nine attacks

For the romantic partners and relatives section, percentages reflect the nine attacks in that group.

For this section, percentages reflect these nine attacks.

• Methodology
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 25 Romantic Partners and Relatives

One domestic-grievance attacker targeted divorce attorneys and child-custody evaluators

One attacker motivated by a domestic grievance did not target a romantic partner's current workplace, but instead targeted the attorneys handling his divorce and the mental health professionals who had evaluated his child during a custody dispute.

One attacker motivated by a domestic grievance did not target a romantic partner's current place of employment, but instead targeted attorneys handling his divorce and mental health professionals who had conducted evaluations of the attacker's child during a custody dispute.

• Domestic Violence
• Grievances
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 25 Romantic Partners and Relatives

43-year-old gunman took two hostages outside his ex-girlfriend's healthcare workplace

In a case example, a 43-year-old gunman armed with a shotgun and a pistol took two hostages in the woods outside the healthcare center where his ex-girlfriend worked.

A 43-year-old gunman, armed with a shotgun and a pistol, took two hostages in the woods outside of a healthcare center where his ex-girlfriend worked.

• Firearms
• Healthcare Settings
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 25 Romantic Partners and Relatives

One attacker also targeted his romantic partner's father at his workplace

One attacker targeted his romantic partner's father at his place of employment.

one attacker who targeted his romantic partner's father at his place of employment

• Domestic Violence
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 25 Romantic Partners and Relatives

Romantic partner and relative attackers showed depression at 44%

Attackers who targeted romantic partners or family members had higher rates of depression (n = 4, 44%) than others.

Sample (n = 4 of 9) · attacks by current or former romantic partners or relatives (9 attacks, each by a lone attacker)

this group had higher rates of depression (n = 4, 44%) and suicidal ideation (n = 3, 33%) than others

• Mental Health
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 26 Mental Health Symptoms Across Attacker Types

Romantic partner and relative attackers showed suicidal ideation at 33%

The same group had higher rates of suicidal ideation (n = 3, 33%) than others.

Sample (n = 3 of 9) · attacks by current or former romantic partners or relatives (9 attacks, each by a lone attacker)

and suicidal ideation (n = 3, 33%) than others

• Mental Health
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 26 Mental Health Symptoms Across Attacker Types

Individuals eliciting concern include employees, customers, and relatives

An individual eliciting concern can be a current or former employee, a customer, client, patient, or visitor, or a current or former romantic partner or relative of someone connected to the workplace.

An individual eliciting concern can be: a current or former employee; a customer, client, patient, and visitor; or a current or former romantic partner or relative of an individual connected to the workplace.

• Current Former Employees
• Customers Clients Patients Visitors
• Key Terms
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 30 Part 2: A Guide for Workplace Violence Prevention

Policy should define who is in BTAM scope and what actions may follow

The policy should articulate who is subject to assessment and what actions may be taken, which may include current and former employees, frequent customers, and relatives.

Articulate who will be subject to a behavioral threat assessment and what actions may be taken during the BTAM process.

• Current Former Employees
• Customers Clients Patients Visitors
• Policy
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 41 Step 2: Establish BTAM Program Policy and Procedures

Definition: intimate partner violence (IPV)

IPV is abuse or aggression in a romantic relationship, including current and former spouses and dating partners, and can include physical, psychological, or sexual violence and stalking.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is abuse or aggression that occurs in the context of a romantic relationship

• Domestic Violence
• Key Terms
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 52 Step 4: Identify and Process Reports of Concerning Behavior

IPV can include physical violence, psychological aggression, sexual violence, and stalking

Intimate partner violence can include physical violence, psychological aggression, sexual violence, stalking, and other behaviors.

IPV can include physical violence, psychological aggression, sexual violence, stalking, and other behaviors.

• Domestic Violence
• Key Terms
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 52 Step 4: Identify and Process Reports of Concerning Behavior

IPV therapist: victims in abusive relationships have little control

A therapist who supports IPV victims says that in an abusive relationship, victims have little control.

In an abusive relationship, victims have little control.

• Domestic Violence
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 53 Step 4: Identify and Process Reports of Concerning Behavior

Home life covers family dysfunction, abuse and domestic violence

Home life refers to family dynamics or home environments that negatively impact an individual, including discord, abuse, drug use, criminality, and domestic violence.

Family dynamics or home environments that negatively impact an individual, including family discord, abuse, drug use, criminality, domestic violence

• Domestic Violence
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 68 Step 5: Gather Information to Assess for Risk

Interpersonal difficulties are strained or conflicted relationships

Interpersonal difficulties are a pattern of strained or conflicted relationships with family, partners, friends, coworkers, neighbors, or community members.

A pattern of strained or conflicted relationships with family members, romantic partners, friends, coworkers, classmates, neighbors, or other members of the community

• Personal Stressors
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 68 Step 5: Gather Information to Assess for Risk

Eligible ERPO petitioners include law enforcement, family, partners, clinicians

Eligible petitioners for an ERPO may include law enforcement, family members, romantic partners, and clinicians, depending on state law.

Eligible petitioners for an ERPO may include law enforcement, family members, romantic partners, and clinicians.

• Firearms
• Law Enforcement
• Legal Considerations
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 78 Step 6: Develop Risk Management Strategies

Organizations face unique challenges managing non-employees of concern

Organizations face unique challenges identifying, assessing, and managing individuals of concern not employed by them, including customers, clients, patients, visitors, and spouses or relatives of people connected to the workplace.

Organizations face unique challenges when trying to identify, assess, and manage individuals of concern that are not employed by the organization, including customers, clients, patients, visitors, and spouses or relatives of individuals connected to the workplace.

• Customers Clients Patients Visitors
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 83 Step 6: Develop Risk Management Strategies

Healthcare network staff send letters notifying patients' families of concerns

Staff at the healthcare network also send letters to the patient's family to notify them of concerns.

Staff also send letters to the patient’s family to notify them of concerns.

• Healthcare Settings
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 84 Step 6: Develop Risk Management Strategies

School as location: all 2%, employees 0%, customers 0%, partners/relatives 11%

Data Table 1 reports a school as the location in 2% of all attacks (n = 50), 0% of attacks by current or former employees (n = 22), 0% by customers, clients, patients, and visitors (n = 19), and 11% by romantic partners and relatives (n = 9).

Sample (N = 50 | 22 | 19 | 9 by column) · Data Table 1 columns: all attacks 50 | employees 22 | customers, clients, patients, visitors 19 | partners and relatives 9

School | 2% | 0% | 0% | 11%

• Incidents
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 94 Appendices

Domestic grievance motive: all 22%, employees 14%, customers 5%, partners/relatives 78%

Data Table 1 reports a domestic grievance (a sub-row of grievance) as a motive in 22% of all attacks (n = 50), 14% of attacks by current or former employees (n = 22), 5% by customers, clients, patients, and visitors (n = 19), and 78% by romantic partners and relatives (n = 9).

Sample (N = 50 | 22 | 19 | 9 by column) · Data Table 1 columns: all attacks 50 | employees 22 | customers, clients, patients, visitors 19 | partners and relatives 9

Domestic | 22% | 14% | 5% | 78%

• Domestic Violence
• Grievances
• Romantic Partners Relatives

cite page 94 Appendices