Sixteen attackers were actively employed by the location they targeted at the time of their attack.
Sixteen attackers were actively employed by the location they targeted at the time of their attack
Most of these attackers (n = 13) initiated their attack during or immediately after a work shift.
most of these attackers (n = 13) initiated their attack during or immediately after a work shift
Four of these attackers concealed their weapons on their person before the attack.
Of these attackers, four concealed their weapon(s) on their person prior to their attack, while five attackers kept their weapon in a vehicle
Five attackers kept their weapon in a vehicle on the work premises and later retrieved it for the attack.
five attackers kept their weapon in a vehicle on the work premises and later retrieved the weapon
Two attackers left the work premises during their shift to go home and retrieve weapons, then returned to attack.
two attackers left the work premises during their shift to go home and retrieve weapons
One attacker was a U.S. military service member on watch duty and was armed with service weapons during his attack.
One attacker was a U.S. military service member on watch duty and was armed with service weapons
All attacks using bladed weapons (n = 7) were perpetrated by customers, clients, patients, or visitors of the targeted location.
All attacks using bladed weapons (n = 7) were perpetrated by customers, clients, patients, or visitors of the targeted location.
Two attacks using bladed weapons were perpetrated at homeless shelters by residents.
Two attacks using bladed weapons were perpetrated at homeless shelters by residents.
An additional two attacks using bladed weapons targeted staff and patients at mental health facilities.
An additional two attacks using bladed weapons targeted staff and patients at mental health facilities
A 39-year-old man stabbed a counselor and other employees at a mental health center after the center had determined that morning he was not appropriate for its treatment program. He was subdued by a client until police arrived.
A 39-year-old man entered a mental health treatment center.
Other attacks using bladed weapons targeted a property management office, the outdoor community space of an apartment complex, and a strip club.
Other attacks using bladed weapons targeted a property management office, the outdoor community space of an apartment complex, and a strip club.
Other types of weapons were less common (n = 4), including a vehicle, propane tank, gasoline, and a homemade explosive device.
Other types of weapons were less common (n = 4), including a vehicle, propane tank, gasoline, and a homemade explosive device.
Table 3 illustrates how the attacks were resolved, broken down by whether attackers stopped on their own, law enforcement intervened, bystanders intervened, or the attack was otherwise ended.
Table 3 illustrates how attacks were resolved.
In over three-quarters of attacks (n = 38, 76%), attackers stopped causing harm on their own.
Sample (n = 38 of 50) · incidents (attacks) in the study
In over three-quarters of attacks (n = 38, 76%), attackers stopped causing harm on their own
Of the attackers who stopped on their own, 15 were then arrested at or away from the scene.
then were arrested at or away from the scene of the attack (n = 15)
Of the attackers who stopped on their own, 23 died by suicide.
or they died by suicide (n = 23)
Less frequently, attackers were stopped by law enforcement intervention (n = 9).
Less frequently, attackers were stopped by law enforcement intervention (n = 9)
Bystanders intervened and stopped the attacker in 2 attacks (n = 2).
bystanders intervened and stopped the attacker (n = 2)
One attack ended after the attacker's weapon ran out of ammunition.
One attack ended after the attacker's weapon ran out of ammunition.
Attackers died during or shortly after most attacks (n = 30, 60%), either by suicide or by being killed by law enforcement.
Sample (n = 30 of 50) · incidents (attacks) in the study
Attackers died during or shortly after most attacks (n = 30, 60%)
Workplace attacks ended with the attacker's suicide at a higher rate (46%) than the non-workplace mass violence incidents (16%) examined in NTAC's 2023 study Mass Attacks in Public Spaces: 2016–2020.
Sample (n = 23 of 50) · incidents (attacks) in the study
attacks ended with the attacker's suicide at higher rates (46%) than in non-workplace related mass violence incidents (16%)
The report compares the workplace attackers' suicide rate against the non-workplace incidents in Mass Attacks in Public Spaces: 2016-2020, a prior NTAC study published in 2023.
Mass Attacks in Public Spaces: 2016 - 2020 (2023)
The attacker drew a concealed knife in a room with a female counselor, stabbed her repeatedly, then slashed and stabbed other employees.
When placed in a room with a female counselor, the man drew a knife concealed under his waistband and began to stab her repeatedly before exiting the room and slashing and stabbing numerous other employees.
On arriving at the mental health treatment center, the attacker began to yell and insisted on seeing the employee he had seen on his last visit.
Upon arrival, he began to yell, and insisted that he see the employee he saw on his last visit.
The attacker was chased and subdued by one of the center's clients until law enforcement arrived and arrested him.
The attacker was ultimately chased and subdued by one of the center's clients until law enforcement arrived and arrested the attacker.
Earlier that morning the center had determined the attacker was not appropriate for its treatment program because of his long history of violence and the severity of his mental health needs.
Earlier that morning, the center had determined that the attacker was not appropriate for their treatment program due to his long history of violence and the severity of his mental health needs.
Table 3 reports that 15 attackers (30%) stopped on their own and were then arrested at or away from the scene.
Sample (n = 15 of 50) · incidents (attacks) in the study
— Arrested at/away from scene | 15 | 30%
Table 3 reports that 23 attackers (46%) stopped on their own and then died by suicide.
Sample (n = 23 of 50) · incidents (attacks) in the study
— Died by suicide | 23 | 46%
Table 3 reports that law enforcement intervened to end 9 of the attacks (18%).
Sample (n = 9 of 50) · incidents (attacks) in the study
Law enforcement intervened, then... | 9 | 18%
Table 3 reports that in 2 attacks (4%) law enforcement intervened and the attacker was then arrested at or away from the scene.
Sample (n = 2 of 50) · incidents (attacks) in the study
— Arrested at/away from scene | 2 | 4%
Table 3 reports that in 7 attacks (14%) law enforcement intervened and the attacker was killed by law enforcement.
Sample (n = 7 of 50) · incidents (attacks) in the study
— Killed by law enforcement | 7 | 14%
Table 3 reports that bystanders intervened to end 2 of the attacks (4%).
Sample (n = 2 of 50) · incidents (attacks) in the study
Bystanders intervened, then... | 2 | 4%
Of the 2 bystander-ended attacks in Table 3, 1 (2%) ended with the attacker arrested at or away from the scene and 1 (2%) is listed as Other.
Sample (n = 1 of 50) · incidents (attacks) in the study
— Other | 1 | 2%
Table 3 reports 1 attack (2%) ended because the weapon was rendered inoperable, after which the attacker was arrested at or away from the scene (1, 2%).
Sample (n = 1 of 50) · incidents (attacks) in the study
Weapon rendered inoperable, then... | 1 | 2%
One bladed-weapon attack at a mental health facility was perpetrated by a patient released one month earlier; another by an individual denied entry into a treatment program hours earlier.
including one attack perpetrated by a patient who had been released one month earlier and another who had been denied entry into a treatment program hours earlier
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