To help thwart potential school violence, students and staff need to beware of certain warning signs – and feel comfortable reporting them.
But “the general public, they really don’t know what to look for,” said former FBI special agent and profiler Mary Ellen O’Toole, who has studied school shootings for more than 20 years.
The clues can range from subtle to overt. And students are often in the best position to notice concerning behavior from classmates, O’Toole said.
Here is what experts say students and schools should recognize as disturbing behavior – and what they should do:
Notice sharp changes in behavior: It can be tough figuring out whether a student might be contemplating harm, or if they’re simply being irritable, angry or withdrawn.
The key is to look out for drastic changes in behavior, said school safety consultant Melissa Reeves, past president of the National Association of School Psychologists.
Those drastic changes can show up in different ways.
For some, it’s increased outward behavior. “So, we will see an escalation in grievances. An escalation, potentially, in anger. We will see an escalation in difficulty managing their emotions,” Reeves said.
Others might do the opposite and become more isolated.
“We’re still seeing significant changes, but they may now be starting to withdraw,” Reeves said. “They’re no longer interacting with groups of friends. They’re starting to spend more time on the internet.”
Broad statements of hostility, such as “I hate everybody,” are another red flag, Reeves said.
Watch out for “leakage”: School shooters often leak hints about their plans before they carry them out, said O’Toole, the former FBI profiler.
“They’re typically done because the offender is really excited about what they’re going to do. Some people say it’s a cry for help … if they’re discovered beforehand, then they could be used for that purpose,” O’Toole said.
But for those bent on violence, “They plan it. They think about it. They fantasize about it. They prepare for it. And all of that period of time in which that is done. That’s very pleasant for them. They enjoy it …”
Keep reading for more clues on preventing school violence here.
Additional information and more resources are also available at FBI.gov/prevent.
