A man killed five people with a shotgun at a newsroom after an unflattering article about him. He had sued the paper years earlier, stalked and threatened employees, and mailed a dossier on the intended victims and their families before the attack.
The attacker had a personal grievance with the newsroom after an unflattering article was written about him
Over half (n = 12, 60%) of the customer, client, patient, and visitor attackers appeared to experience a specific triggering event prior to attacking.
Sample (n = 12 of 20) · customer, client, patient, and visitor attackers
Over half (n = 12, 60%) of the customer, client, patient, and visitor attackers appeared to experience a specific triggering event prior to perpetrating an attack
All triggering events occurred within one month of the attack, ranging from 2.5 hours to 2-4 weeks before the incident.
These triggering events all occurred within one month of the attack, ranging from 2.5 hours to 2-4 weeks prior to the incident
The triggers included a spouse saying they were filing for divorce, an attacker being served an eviction notice or protective order, a lawsuit dismissal, and being fired from a job.
a spouse saying they were filing for divorce
Before the attack, the attacker downloaded blueprints, recorded video of the building and access points, read textbooks on mass shootings, and studied police reaction times.
downloaded blueprints and recorded video of the newsroom building and its access points, read textbooks on mass shootings, studied police reaction times to previous attacks
Before the attack, the attacker created and mailed a dossier containing information about the intended victims and their families.
created and mailed a dossier with information about the intended victims and their families
In preparation for incarceration after the attack, the attacker sold his car and spent a significant portion of his income on a lifetime chess organization membership.
In preparation for his incarceration after the attack, the attacker also sold his car and spent a significant portion of his income on the purchase of a lifetime membership for a chess organization.
In a case example, a 38-year-old man entered a newsroom and opened fire with a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, killing five people.
A 38-year-old man entered a newsroom and opened fire with a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, killing five people.
The newsroom attacker had filed a defamation lawsuit against the paper six years earlier and had stalked and threatened its employees, who contacted law enforcement and developed personal safety plans.
The attacker had filed a defamation lawsuit against the paper six years earlier and had stalked and threatened employees of the paper, prompting them to contact law enforcement and develop personal safety plans.
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