All but one of the 50 incidents had a single attacker
All but one of the 50 incidents examined were perpetrated by a single attacker.
All but one of the 50 incidents examined were perpetrated by a single attacker.
NCIER®
The Attackers
Report pages 15–17: 45 claims on pp. 15–17 (fact 30, evidence 14, conclusion 1).
Claims in this section
The one multi-attacker incident was a pair firing at a bar
The one incident with more than one attacker involved a pair who opened fire at a bar after one attacker had been thrown out hours earlier.
The one incident perpetrated by more than one attacker involved a pair of assailants that opened fire at a bar
Nearly all attackers were male (96%, n = 49)
Nearly all attackers were male (n = 49, 96%).
Sample (n = 49 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
Nearly all attackers were male (n = 49, 96%)
Attacker ages ranged from 22 to 66
Attacker ages ranged from 22 to 66 years old.
ages ranged from 22 to 66 years old
Average workplace attacker age was 41
The average age of workplace attackers was 41 years.
The average age of workplace attackers was 41 years.
Key findings box summarizes attacker stressors, concern, charges, and DV
The attacker key findings box lists stressors, elicited concern, prior criminal charges, and domestic violence history as key findings.
KEY FINDINGS FOR ATTACKERS
Why inferred Key findings box is a summary judgement; its statistics are restated from the body text.
92% of attackers had stressors within five years of the attack (n = 47)
Nearly all attackers (n = 47, 92%) experienced noteworthy life stressors within five years of their attack.
Sample (n = 47 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
Nearly all attackers (n = 47, 92%) experienced noteworthy life stressors within five years of their attack.
Financial difficulties affected 55% of attackers (n = 28)
Stressors frequently included financial difficulties (n = 28, 55%).
Sample (n = 28 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
financial difficulties (n = 28, 55%)
Personal-life problems affected 47% of attackers (n = 24)
Stressors also included problems in the attacker's personal life (n = 24, 47%).
Sample (n = 24 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
problems in their personal lives (n = 24, 47%)
Employment issues affected 45% of attackers (n = 23)
Stressors also included employment-related issues (n = 23, 45%), such as conflicts with coworkers or disciplinary actions or termination at work.
Sample (n = 23 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
employment-related issues (n = 23, 45%)
Many attackers experienced multiple stressors at once
In many cases, attackers experienced multiple stressors at once.
In many cases, attackers experienced multiple stressors at once.
Service member's on-base shooting after cumulative stressors
A 22-year-old U.S. military service member facing health, family, peer, and performance stressors, and seeking mental health care for sleep, coping, and belonging problems, fatally shot two civilian workers and injured a third on base before dying by suicide.
A 22-year-old service member in the U.S. military, armed with his service rifle and handgun, fatally shot two civilian workers and injured a third on base
A military service member faced personal and professional stressors in the year before his attack
As an example of multiple stressors, a U.S. military service member experienced a number of personal and professional stressors in the year leading up to his attack.
For instance, a U.S. military service member experienced a number of personal and professional stressors in the year leading up to his attack.
Service member's stressors: chronic pain, ill loved one, peer harassment, work reprimands
In the year before the attack, the service member experienced chronic pain from a motorcycle accident, a loved one's ailing health, harassment from peers, and numerous work reprimands and citations for poor performance and tardiness.
Within the year prior to the attack, the attacker experienced multiple stressors, including chronic pain resulting from a motorcycle accident, the ailing health of a loved one, harassment from peers, and numerous reprimands and citations at work due to poor performance and tardiness.
Service member repeatedly sought care for sleep, stress, and alienation problems
At multiple points the service member sought medical attention for mental health problems, including difficulty sleeping and concentrating, coping with stress, and feelings of alienation and not belonging among peers.
At multiple points in time, the attacker sought medical attention for mental health problems, including visits for difficulty sleeping and concentrating, issues coping with stress, and feelings of alienation and lacking a sense of belonging among his peers.
Key finding: 78% of attackers had a history of behaviors that elicited concern
The Key Findings for Attackers box states that 78% of attackers had a history of behaviors that elicited concern from others.
Sample (n = 40 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
78% of attackers had a history of behaviors that elicited concern from others.
Key finding: 65% of attackers had prior criminal charges
The Key Findings for Attackers box states that 65% of attackers had prior criminal charges.
Sample (n = 33 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
65% of attackers had prior criminal charges.
Key finding: 53% of attackers had at least one instance of domestic violence
The Key Findings for Attackers box states that 53% of attackers had at least one instance of domestic violence in their past.
Sample (n = 27 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
53% of attackers had at least one instance of domestic violence in their past.
78% of attackers exhibited behaviors that elicited concern (n = 40)
Over three-quarters of attackers (n = 40, 78%) exhibited behaviors that elicited concern in others.
Sample (n = 40 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
Over three-quarters of attackers (n = 40, 78%) exhibited behaviors that elicited concern in others
61% of attackers caused observers to fear for safety (n = 31)
Over half of attackers (n = 31, 61%) exhibited behaviors that caused observers to fear for the safety of the attacker, themselves, or others.
Sample (n = 31 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
over half of attackers (n = 31, 61%) exhibited behaviors that caused observers to fear for the safety of the attacker, themselves, or others
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
Other concerning behaviors: threats, strange conduct, stalking, harassment
Other behaviors that elicited concern included disturbing or threatening statements, strange or unusual behavior, and stalking and harassing others.
Other behaviors that elicited concern included attackers making disturbing or threatening statements, exhibiting strange or unusual behaviors, and stalking and harassing others.
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
65% of attackers had a history of criminal charges (n = 33)
Nearly two-thirds of workplace attackers (n = 33, 65%) had a history of criminal charges.
Sample (n = 33 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
Nearly two-thirds of workplace attackers (n = 33, 65%) had a history of criminal charges.
29 attackers had charges for non-violent offenses
Most of these attackers had charges for non-violent offenses (n = 29).
Sample (n = 29 of 33) · attackers with a history of criminal charges
Most of these attackers had charges for non-violent offenses (n = 29)
16 attackers had charges for violent offenses
Some attackers had charges for violent offenses (n = 16).
Sample (n = 16 of 33) · attackers with a history of criminal charges
some had charges for violent offenses (n = 16)
9 attackers had charges for domestic violence
Some attackers had charges for domestic violence (n = 9).
Sample (n = 9 of 33) · attackers with a history of criminal charges
domestic violence (n = 9)
4 attackers had charges for sex crimes
Some attackers had charges for sex crimes (n = 4).
Sample (n = 4 of 33) · attackers with a history of criminal charges
or sex crimes (n = 4)
53% of attackers had at least one domestic violence instance (n = 27)
Over half of attackers (n = 27, 53%) had at least one instance of domestic violence in their past.
Sample (n = 27 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
over half of attackers (n = 27, 53%) had at least one instance of domestic violence in their past
Only 9 of the 27 domestic violence perpetrators were arrested or charged
Only around one-third of these attackers (n = 9) were arrested or charged for such an offense.
Sample (n = 9 of 27) · attackers with at least one instance of domestic violence in their past
only around one-third of these attackers (n = 9) were arrested or charged for such an offense
Not all criminal activity led to an arrest or charge
Not all criminal activity resulted in an arrest or a criminal charge.
not all criminal activity resulted in an arrest or a criminal charge.
Gunman with two-decade criminal record killed three after protection order
A 38-year-old gunman with a two-decade criminal history, including felony convictions and domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend, was served a civil protection order at work on the day of his attack. He killed three and injured fourteen before being shot by law enforcement.
A 38-year-old gunman armed with a pistol and a rifle killed three and injured fourteen others
Elementary school shooter: two decades of domestic violence and threats
The attacker's domestic violence spanned two decades and included assaults and threats to kill women, two previous wives, and his own children.
The attacker had a history of domestic violence spanning two decades, which included numerous assaults and threats to harm and kill women, including two previous wives, as well as threats to kill his own children.
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.
Gunman barred by felony convictions threatened ex-girlfriend into supplying firearms
Although barred from owning firearms by prior felony convictions, the attacker threatened his ex-girlfriend until she supplied the guns used in the attack.
Although the attacker could not legally own firearms due to his prior felony convictions, he threatened his ex-girlfriend until she provided him with the firearms he ultimately used in his attack.
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.
Ex-wives, an ex-girlfriend, and a pastor couple filed restraining orders against school shooter
The attacker's violent and threatening behavior led both of his ex-wives, an ex-girlfriend, and a local female pastor and her husband to file restraining orders against him.
The attacker's violent and threatening behavior prompted multiple parties, including both of his ex-wives, an ex-girlfriend, and a local female pastor and her husband, to file restraining orders against him.
Driving spree gunman was shot and killed by responding officers
The gunman whose spree ended at his workplace was shot and killed by responding law enforcement officers.
The attacker was ultimately shot and killed by responding law enforcement officers.
Gunman was served a civil protection order at work earlier on the day of his attack
Earlier on the day of the attack, the gunman was served a civil protection order at his place of employment.
Earlier that day, the attacker was served a civil protection order at his place of employment.
Gunman's two-decade record: felony burglary and gun convictions, a brawl arrest, dismissed charges
The gunman's criminal history spanned two decades, including multiple felony convictions for burglaries and gun charges, an arrest after a brawl, and many other charges that were dismissed.
The attacker had a long criminal history spanning two decades, including multiple felony convictions related to burglaries and gun charges, an arrest after the attacker got into a brawl with others, and many other charges that were ultimately dismissed.
Gunman's domestic violence against ex-girlfriend led her to seek the protection order
The gunman had numerous law enforcement encounters for domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend, which prompted her to file for the protection order served on the day of his attack.
The attacker had numerous other encounters with law enforcement for domestic violence he perpetrated against his ex-girlfriend, prompting her to file for the protection order he was served on the day of his attack.
43% of attackers were current or former employees (n = 22)
Over two-fifths of attackers were current or former employees of the targeted location (n = 22, 43%).
Sample (n = 22 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
over two-fifths of attackers were current or former employees of the targeted location (n = 22, 43%)
39% of attackers were frequent customers, clients, patients, or visitors (n = 20)
Over one-third of attackers (n = 20, 39%) were customers, clients, patients, or visitors with frequent or substantive contact with the targeted location.
Sample (n = 20 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
over one-third (n = 20, 39%) were customers, clients, patients, or visitors with frequent or substantive contact with the targeted location
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
Figure 1: attacker affiliation to the targeted site
Figure 1 is a pie chart of attacker affiliation to the targeted site: Current or Former Employees (n = 22), Customers, Clients, Patients, and Visitors (n = 20), and Romantic Partners and Relatives (n = 9).
FIGURE 1 Attacker Affiliation to Targeted Site
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