WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new report by the U.S. Secret Service concluded that there is still no single profile of an active shooter but there is a range of “concerning behaviors” that can help promote early intervention. The report examined 27 targeted attacks in 18 states that occurred in public spaces in 2018, including the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which claimed the lives of 17 students and faculty members as well as two other incidents that occurred in Florida that year.
“Mental illness, alone, is not a risk factor for violence, and most violence is committed by individuals who are not mentally ill,” said the report released Tuesday by the agency’s National Threat Assessment Center. “Two-thirds of the attackers in this study, however, had previously displayed symptoms indicative of mental health issues, including depression, paranoia, and delusions.”
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Most — but not all of the attacks studied by the Secret Service — involved guns. In all, a total of 91 people were killed and 107 were injured as a result of the incidents that took place “where people should feel safe,” including schools, places of employment, places of worship and other public areas, the report explained.
“Mass attacks — whether inspired by hateful ideologies, grievances, or any other motivating factor — shatter the feeling of safety that we typically have in public spaces in the U.S,” said Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin K. McAleenan. “The Department of Homeland Security prioritizes the prevention of targeted violence, to include domestic terrorism inspired by all ideologies. Hate and violence have no place in our public spaces.”
McAleenan noted that no other agency had as much expertise to study such incidents as the Secret Service.
“This is because the Secret Service has the most experience at protecting public spaces, and they remain the best at it in the world,” he said. “Secret Service’s multidisciplinary methodology involves coordination and partnership between law enforcement and others, including workplace managers, school administrators, local officials and the mental health community.”
The 20-page report called “Mass Attacks in Public Spaces -2018,” focuses on incidents in which three or more persons were harmed and that occurred in public places. The incidents included the June 28, 2018, attack on the Capital Gazette newsroom in Annapolis, Maryland, that killed five staffers; the May 18, 2018, attack on a high school in Santa Fe, Texas that killed 10; and the Oct. 27, 2018, attack on the Pittsburgh Tree of Life synagogue in which 11 lives were taken.
“Other attackers displayed behaviors that do not indicate the presence of a mental illness, but do show that the person was experiencing some sort of distress or an emotional struggle,” the report said. “These behaviors included displays of persistent anger, an inability to cope with stressful events, or increased isolation.”
The U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center was created in 1998 to provide guidance on threat assessment both within the U.S. Secret Service and to others with criminal justice and public safety responsibilities.
The report highlighted the importance of early reporting by the community.
“While over-reporting is not the goal, a reasonable awareness of the warning signs that can precede an act of violence may prompt community members to share their concerns with someone who can help,” the report said. “Systems can be developed to promote and facilitate such reporting, and people should be encouraged to trust their instincts, especially if they have concerns for someone’s safety.”
The attacks studied took place in every month except December and occurred on every day of the week. More than half ended within five minutes of the start.
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Of the 24 attackers who used firearms, at least 10 obtained their weapon illegally at the time of the incident, including two minors.
The remaining eight had felony convictions, were the subjects of protective orders or had some other factor that would have prohibited them from purchasing or possessing a firearm based on federal or state laws, according to the study.
Officials noted that responsible public safety organizations are tasked with assessing the threats to manage any risk of violence posed by an individual.
“With a focus on early intervention, this systematic approach is an important component of any safety plan. It allows communities to respond appropriately to a broad range of situations, from those individuals who are displaying a low-level concerning behavior to those who may pose an immediate and imminent risk of violence,” the report said.
In comparing 2017 shootings with 2018 shootings, the report found that most of the shooters continued to be male with an average age of 37. Here are other findings:
“While law enforcement has a key role to play in the prevention of community violence, intervening with individuals who may pose a risk is not the responsibility of law enforcement alone,” said the report. “Particularly in those instances where a concerning individual has not broken a law, the relationships between law enforcement and other community resources become paramount.”
The report noted that relationships among law enforcement agencies and other community resources are key to preventing attacks. “Law enforcement personnel are encouraged to continue developing close partnerships with the mental health community, local schools and school districts, houses of worship, social services, and other private and public community organizations,” the report said.