Potentially averted attacks

Continued research shows that tips to law enforcement are the most effective tool in preventing potential active shooter incidents.

While this report focuses on active shooter incidents that occurred in 2025, there were various instances where a potential attack was averted by either law enforcement observations, tips to the FBI and/or local law enforcement, or information provided to school resource officers (SROs) or campus police.

This appendix is not all inclusive but offers several examples where methods such as “see something, say something” likely prevented an attack and saved lives.

In August 2025, deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office made contact with a 41 year old male outside his vehicle in a restricted area at the Palm Beach International Airport. The man had a rifle, loaded magazines, and multiple knives. He was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

In November 2025, patrol officers observed a 25 year old male driving a car in Canby Park in Delaware after-hours and initiated a traffic stop. Officers discovered firearms, loaded magazines, a ballistic armor plate, and a notebook that outlined plans for an attack on the University of Delaware Police Department which included a layout of the building. The man was charged with illegally possessing a machine-gun.

In May 2025, a 14 year old male planned to conduct a shooting attack with IEDs at Three Rivers Mall. The juvenile had precise details, including a map of the mall. The juvenile shared attack plans and extremist ideology in online chats which were reported to the FBI who worked with local law enforcement to identify the juvenile. He was charged with attempted second-degree murder, attempted assault, firearms offenses, disorderly conduct, and tampering with physical evidence.

In September 2025, a 16 year old male threatened to conduct a school shooting in an online post. The social media company notified the FBI who worked with local law enforcement. The student was located inside the school with a handgun and additional ammunition and charged with multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon, making a terroristic threat, and other crimes.

In October 2025, a 49 year old male was taken into custody after his family alerted law enforcement that he was livestreaming plans to conduct a shooting at the airport. Law enforcement found a rifle with multiple rounds of ammunition in the backseat of his truck. He was charged with suspicion of making terroristic threats, criminal attempt to commit aggravated assault, and firearms charges.

In August 2025, school administrators received a student tip that two juvenile males were planning to conduct a school shooting. The SRO and local law enforcement arrested the students who were charged with making terroristic threats.

In November 2025, students informed campus police of a 21 year old male student’s plan to conduct a shooting at the university the next day. After searching the student, his car, and his residence, campus police seized multiple firearms under an Extreme Risk Protection Order, also know as a red flag law.