A new report from The Rockefeller Foundation has identified a wide variety of warning signs common to mass shooting events. Examining data from 171 mass public shootings by 175 perpetrators in the United States between 1999 and 2024, researchers identified common “pre-attack warning behaviors and communications” in the hope that future shootings can be anticipated and prevented.
Among the report’s findings:
- Mass shootings occur across a wide range of locations and contexts.
Incidents were most common in workplaces and schools, though they occurred across 39 states and the District of Columbia and at all times of day and week. These patterns reinforce the need for prevention efforts that extend across multiple settings and communities. - Perpetrators often experience multiple, overlapping stressors.
Mental health concerns, job-related difficulties, and family-related problems were among the most common, and perpetrators typically experienced about five different stressors, indicating that challenges rarely occurred in isolation. This underscores the importance of recognizing cumulative stressors rather than focusing on any single issue. - ‘Leakage’ is common and often communicated to others.
Eighty-five percent of perpetrators engaged in ‘leakage’ (the communication of violent thoughts or intentions) prior to the attack, most often through direct, in-person interactions. This finding highlights the critical role of bystanders in recognizing and responding to warning signs. - Perpetrators often exhibit multiple concerning behaviors.
Indicators such as emotional distress, impulsivity, risky behavior, and social withdrawal frequently co-occurred, with individuals demonstrating an average of more than six concerning behaviors. These findings emphasize the importance of recognizing patterns of behavior rather than isolated actions.
The full report is fascinating and well worth the read.