WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.120 --> 00:00:03.160 Free audio post production. 2 00:00:04.360 --> 00:00:08.560 By Alphonic dot Com. We have an active shooter, we 3 00:00:08.599 --> 00:00:09.359 have an actor shoot. 4 00:00:09.359 --> 00:00:11.400 It's colleadings a mass casualty. 5 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:18.719 Welcome to Active Shooter, a podcast that covers the wys, 6 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:22.519 the hows, and the aftermath of active shooter and mass 7 00:00:22.519 --> 00:00:23.679 casualty events. 8 00:00:29.239 --> 00:00:29.640 They have an. 9 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:32.240 Active shooter in the building. A second called AT's say 10 00:00:32.719 --> 00:00:34.280 our Big Cat show? 11 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:37.799 What six nights? We got shot fire at four fifteen 12 00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:40.320 as broaching ninety one, So I'm like, Oh, I'm at. 13 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:58.119 A fire, active shooter. Forts of an active shooter, active. 14 00:00:57.799 --> 00:01:00.759 Shooter, active shooter in mass casual incidents. 15 00:01:02.799 --> 00:01:04.239 Thank you for listening. 16 00:01:06.599 --> 00:01:09.480 You are listening to Active Shooter, a podcast that may 17 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:13.719 contain adult themes, explicit language, and graphic depictions of violence. 18 00:01:14.319 --> 00:01:17.439 Portions of this show may be traumatic for those under eighteen. 19 00:01:18.159 --> 00:01:20.920 Listener discretion is advised. 20 00:01:21.159 --> 00:01:24.760 In the quiet moments before dawn or admidst the bustling 21 00:01:24.879 --> 00:01:28.359 energy of a school day, the unthinkable can shatter lives. 22 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:33.840 Active shooter and mass casualty events leave indelible scars on individuals, families, 23 00:01:33.840 --> 00:01:38.920 and entire communities across the United States. While the statistics 24 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:43.079 may seem abstract, a closer look reveals that behind every 25 00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:47.439 number lies a story of profound loss, resilience, and the 26 00:01:47.719 --> 00:01:53.760 urgent collective need for understanding and action. Today, we're going 27 00:01:53.799 --> 00:01:57.159 to do something a little different regarding active shooter. Today 28 00:01:57.200 --> 00:02:00.560 is not about one occurrence. Today is about out twenty 29 00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:03.680 twenty four. Today we are talking about the state of 30 00:02:03.799 --> 00:02:07.280 active shooter and mass casualty events in the United States 31 00:02:07.799 --> 00:02:11.199 in twenty twenty four. To truly grasp the scope of this, 32 00:02:11.479 --> 00:02:14.560 we have to navigate the terminology that shapes our understanding. 33 00:02:15.159 --> 00:02:17.960 The Federal Bureau of Investigation, or as we know it, 34 00:02:18.039 --> 00:02:23.000 the FBI, provides a foundational definition characterizing an active shooter 35 00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:26.639 as one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or 36 00:02:26.680 --> 00:02:31.199 attempting to kill people in a populated area, implicitly utilizing 37 00:02:31.240 --> 00:02:36.360 a firearm, which highlights the precious, often fleeting window for 38 00:02:36.439 --> 00:02:41.280 intervention and response. Complementing this, the FBI also defines a 39 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:44.280 mass killing as an incident resulting in three or more 40 00:02:44.360 --> 00:02:48.039 killings in a single event, a critical distinction being that 41 00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:52.240 the shooter is explicitly excluded from these casualty counts when 42 00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:58.240 determining if an event meets this threshold. However, the conversation 43 00:02:58.319 --> 00:03:02.879 extends far beyond these specific FBI definitions, leading to a 44 00:03:03.000 --> 00:03:06.759 vital meta conversation about how we define and perceive the 45 00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:11.280 scale of gun violence in America. Other reputable organizations, such 46 00:03:11.319 --> 00:03:16.840 as the Gun Violence Archive GVA, employ broader criteria. GVA 47 00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:19.800 defines a mass shooting as a gun violence incident in 48 00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:23.000 which four more victims are injured or killed excluding the shooter. 49 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:28.280 This wider lens, which encompasses injuries and addition to fatalities 50 00:03:28.520 --> 00:03:32.599 and sets a lower threshold for victim count, naturally results 51 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:36.439 in a significantly higher number of reported incidents compared to 52 00:03:36.479 --> 00:03:40.919 the FBI's active shooter or mass killing definitions. This divergence 53 00:03:40.919 --> 00:03:47.159 in definition is not merely semantic. It profoundly influences public perception, 54 00:03:47.639 --> 00:03:53.240 policy debates, and the allocation of resources. Beyond firearm related incidents, 55 00:03:53.520 --> 00:03:58.800 the term mass casualty events encompasses any incident, regardless of cause, 56 00:03:58.840 --> 00:04:02.639 that results in a number of fatalities or injuries. This 57 00:04:02.800 --> 00:04:06.960 broader category includes natural disasters, which, as evidenced by data 58 00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:10.919 from the Emergency Events Database the MDAT, can lead to 59 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:14.199 substantial loss of life and economic damage. There is a 60 00:04:14.360 --> 00:04:20.240 multifaceted challenge with public safety that extends beyond intentional acts 61 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:25.360 of violence. In the face of such devastating events, accurate 62 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:29.480 and consistently collected data is not merely a collection of numbers. 63 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:34.360 It is the bedrock upon which effective prevention strategies are built, 64 00:04:34.759 --> 00:04:40.800 resources are judiciously allocated, and communities are protected. Without reliable, 65 00:04:40.920 --> 00:04:46.480 granular data, policy decisions risk being based on anecdote, speculation, 66 00:04:46.959 --> 00:04:52.000 or incomplete understanding rather than evidence. The FBI, through its 67 00:04:52.040 --> 00:04:56.399 annual Active Shooter Reports, plays an important role giving law enforcement, 68 00:04:56.600 --> 00:05:00.560 other first responders, private industry, and the public with critical 69 00:05:00.680 --> 00:05:05.439 data and understandings necessary to enhance their comprehension of these 70 00:05:05.480 --> 00:05:10.720 threats and to inform their preparedness efforts. The methodology employed 71 00:05:10.720 --> 00:05:14.000 by the FBI for its active shooter data collection is rigorous. 72 00:05:14.439 --> 00:05:19.000 It leverages extensive law enforcement partnerships and internal FBI holdings, 73 00:05:19.360 --> 00:05:23.000 supplemented by official law enforcement reports and open source data 74 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:28.759 where centralized databases are absent. Importantly, the FBI's methodology also 75 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:33.759 specifies explicit exclusions to ensure consistency and focus on particular 76 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:39.319 types of incidents. Incidents primarily involving self defense, gang violence, 77 00:05:39.480 --> 00:05:45.079 drug related violence, residential or domestic disputes, barricade hostage situations, 78 00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:48.639 Shootings related to other criminal acts or crossfire as a 79 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:53.240 byproduct of ongoing criminal activity are not included in their 80 00:05:53.279 --> 00:05:57.600 active shooter statistics. This precise scope allows for a focused 81 00:05:57.639 --> 00:06:02.439 analysis of specific types of incident, though, as I'll talk about, 82 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:07.240 it also contributes to differences when compared with other organizations 83 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:11.319 broader data sets, leading to a more complex overall picture 84 00:06:11.319 --> 00:06:16.600 of gun violence. The insights presented in this episode are 85 00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:20.399 primarily informed by the FBI's Active Shooter Incidents in the 86 00:06:20.519 --> 00:06:23.600 United States twenty twenty four report, which serves as the 87 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:27.879 foundational document for understanding the specific dynamics of FBI defined 88 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:34.079 active shooter events. This comprehensive document provides detailed statistics, temporal 89 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:38.920 and geographical patterns, shooter profiles, and intervention outcomes for the 90 00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:44.519 year to provide you with a more complete perspective and 91 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:47.120 to address the broader context of gun violence and mass 92 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:53.439 casualty events. This report also includes information to other supplementary sources, 93 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:56.680 including the Gun Violence Archive, which offers a wider lens 94 00:06:56.680 --> 00:06:59.879 of mass shootings than overall gun violence trends, including FETE 95 00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:04.639 and injuries using its distinct definition. Also, Every Town for 96 00:07:04.720 --> 00:07:08.240 Gun Safety contributes data on gun law rankings and the 97 00:07:08.279 --> 00:07:13.160 impact of policy changes, alongside specific statistics on gun related 98 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:17.199 incidents on school grounds. The K through twelve School Shooting 99 00:07:17.279 --> 00:07:21.360 Database provides additional, more granular data on shooting incidents within 100 00:07:21.560 --> 00:07:27.360 educational environments. And Finally, the Emergency Events Database MDAT offers 101 00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:31.639 a global and national overview of natural hazard related incidents, 102 00:07:31.879 --> 00:07:36.000 providing context for mass casualty events beyond gun violence. And 103 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:40.120 by pulling all of this information together, we the staff 104 00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:43.319 of Active Shooter aim to offer both a thorough and 105 00:07:43.480 --> 00:07:46.519 nuanced understanding of the state of active shooter and mass 106 00:07:46.600 --> 00:07:51.959 casualty events in twenty twenty four. In twenty twenty four, 107 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:55.480 the FBI designated a total of twenty four active shooter 108 00:07:55.639 --> 00:07:59.959 incidents across the United States. These incidents collectively resulted in 109 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:04.720 one hundred and six casualties, comprising twenty three individuals killed 110 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:08.680 in eighty three wounded. These figures represent the FBI's specific 111 00:08:08.720 --> 00:08:13.560 categorization focusing on dynamic, ongoing events where individuals are actively 112 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:18.120 engaged in killing or attempting to kill in populated areas. Now, 113 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:21.800 when you compare twenty twenty four data, there are significant 114 00:08:21.920 --> 00:08:25.399 changes when viewed against previous years and longer historical trends. 115 00:08:25.639 --> 00:08:28.680 From twenty twenty three to twenty twenty four, there was 116 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:32.039 a substantial year over year decline in active shooter incidents 117 00:08:32.039 --> 00:08:35.799 and casualties. The twenty four incidents in twenty twenty four 118 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:39.879 represent a remarkable fifty percent decrease from the forty eight 119 00:08:39.879 --> 00:08:44.240 incidents recorded in twenty twenty three. Similarly, the one hundred 120 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:46.759 and six casualties in twenty twenty four mark a fifty 121 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:49.799 seven percent reduction from the two hundred and forty four 122 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:54.120 casualties reported in twenty twenty three. This sharp decline is 123 00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:57.000 a positive development, There's no doubt about it, and it 124 00:08:57.080 --> 00:09:00.519 suggests that some prevention response efforts may actually be yielding 125 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:05.759 tangible results. However, and you know there had to be. However, 126 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:10.039 to fully appreciate the significance of this reduction, it is 127 00:09:10.120 --> 00:09:13.639 also important to place it within a broader historical context, 128 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:18.399 looking beyond just the immediate prior year. Examining the five 129 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:21.519 year period from twenty twenty to twenty twenty four, the 130 00:09:21.639 --> 00:09:25.559 FBI designated two hundred and twenty three active shooter incidents, 131 00:09:25.559 --> 00:09:29.679 which represents a seventy percent increase from the preceding five 132 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:33.120 year period of twenty fifteen to twenty nineteen, which saw 133 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:36.879 one hundred and thirty one incidents. Over this twenty twenty 134 00:09:36.919 --> 00:09:41.200 to twenty twenty four span, total casualties amounted to one thousand, 135 00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:44.039 seventy with three hundred and sixty nine killed and seven 136 00:09:44.120 --> 00:09:47.120 hundred and one wounded. While the twenty four incidents in 137 00:09:47.159 --> 00:09:50.320 twenty twenty four are considerably lower than the average of 138 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:52.919 forty four point six incidents per year for the twenty 139 00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:55.679 twenty to twenty twenty four period, and the one hundred 140 00:09:55.720 --> 00:09:58.360 and six casualties in twenty twenty four fall below the 141 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:01.360 five year average of two hundred four fourteen casualties per year. 142 00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:06.000 This recent decline it's really important to be seen in perspective. 143 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:09.840 Extending this view to a twenty five year span twenty 144 00:10:09.960 --> 00:10:12.480 to twenty twenty four, a total of five hundred and 145 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:16.000 fifty six active shooter incidents have been recorded, resulting in 146 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:19.559 three thousand, nine hundred and twenty one casualties. That is, 147 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:24.200 over fourteen hundred people killed and almost twenty five hundred 148 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:27.559 people wounded, with an average of seven point one casualties 149 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:32.480 per incident. Historical trends reveal a concerning escalation over time. 150 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:36.919 The period from two thousand to twenty twelve, pre Sandy 151 00:10:36.919 --> 00:10:40.559 Hook averaged twelve point five incidents per year. This nearly 152 00:10:40.679 --> 00:10:43.279 doubled to an average of twenty four point two incidents 153 00:10:43.320 --> 00:10:46.639 per year from twenty thirteen to twenty nineteen, and then 154 00:10:46.679 --> 00:10:50.159 nearly doubled again to an average of forty four point 155 00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:53.559 six incidents per year from twenty nineteen to twenty twenty four. 156 00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:58.720 A critical observation from this comparison is that while the 157 00:10:58.759 --> 00:11:02.240 fifty percent reduction in active shooter incidents and fifty seven 158 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:06.080 percent decrease in casualties from twenty three to twenty four 159 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:09.320 is encouraging, it has to be put in context by 160 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:13.799 using the broader historical information. The twenty four incidents recorded 161 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:17.399 in twenty twenty four, while a sharp decline from recent peaks, 162 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:21.200 are still on par with the average from twenty thirteen 163 00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:25.639 to twenty nineteen and nearly double the pre Sandy Hook average. 164 00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:28.279 This suggests that while twenty twenty four may represent a 165 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:31.759 successful year for prevention and response efforts, it does not 166 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:34.720 signify a return to the lower rates observed in the 167 00:11:34.759 --> 00:11:39.559 early two thousands. The underlying facts contributing to the post 168 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:43.600 twenty twelve, increase may still be present, and sustained effort 169 00:11:43.799 --> 00:11:47.519 is required to maintain or further reduce these numbers. This 170 00:11:47.720 --> 00:11:51.799 calls for cautious optimism with a side of continued vigilance, 171 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:55.679 rather than a declaration like we hear through multiple sources 172 00:11:55.879 --> 00:12:00.200 that the problem has been fully resolved. The challenge remains 173 00:12:00.200 --> 00:12:05.960 to understand which specific interventions contributed to this recent positive shift, 174 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:10.480 in how to replicate and sustain them and build upon them. 175 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:13.720 With the twenty four active shooter incidents designated by the 176 00:12:13.799 --> 00:12:17.759 FBI in twenty four, three, thirteen percent of the total 177 00:12:18.039 --> 00:12:20.960 met the federal definition for a mass killing incident. This 178 00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:25.080 is a substantial eighty percent decrease in mass killings from 179 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:28.960 the fifteen incidents recorded in twenty twenty three. Over the 180 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:32.360 five year period from twenty to twenty four, the average 181 00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:34.759 number of mass killings with an active shooter incidents was 182 00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:37.919 nine point six per year, with forty eight total incidents 183 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:42.480 meeting this definition. Now, a massive challenge in interpreting these 184 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:46.799 figures lay in the definitional discrepancies across various data sources. 185 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:51.559 The FBI's narrow definition leads to a significantly lower reported 186 00:12:51.639 --> 00:12:56.200 number compared to broader definitions used by other organizations. For instance, 187 00:12:56.720 --> 00:13:00.399 the Gun Violence Archive reported four hundred and ninety nine 188 00:13:00.440 --> 00:13:04.080 mass shootings in twenty twenty four, defined as incidents where 189 00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:06.759 four or more victims were injured or killed excluding the shooter. 190 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:11.879 This substantial difference in reported numbers, with the FBI identifying 191 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:14.840 three mass killings versus the gva's four hundred and ninety 192 00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:19.399 nine mass shootings stems from the varying thresholds and criteria 193 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:25.919 for inclusion. This inconsistency can lead to public confusion, misinterpretation 194 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:31.080 of trends, and challenges in developing unified policy responses. There 195 00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:34.559 is a need for clear communication about the scope and 196 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:39.519 limitations of different data sets to ensure that policymakers and 197 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:43.759 the public draw accurate conclusions about the scale and nature 198 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:47.440 of the problem. Without a common understanding of what constitutes 199 00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:51.559 a mass shooting or mass casualty event, efforts to track progress, 200 00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:56.960 allocate resources, and implement effective prevention strategies can become fragmented 201 00:13:57.240 --> 00:14:02.600 and less impactful. While statistics give us a macro view, 202 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:05.919 the true impact of active shooter incidents, as you our 203 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:10.320 listeners know, is felt most acutely in the individual stories 204 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:13.919 of those affected. In twenty twenty four, several events stood 205 00:14:13.960 --> 00:14:17.639 out due to their tragic casualty counts, each leaving an 206 00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:21.639 indelible mark on the communities. Understanding these incidents on a 207 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:26.440 more personal level, including the victim's experiences and the shooter's histories, 208 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:30.320 offers critical insights into the human cost and the complex, 209 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:35.120 often presentable pathways to violence. That is what we try 210 00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:40.279 to cover here on Active Shooter the Mad Butcher Number 211 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:45.600 four oh six in Fordce, Arkansas. On Friday June twenty first, 212 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:48.519 twenty twenty four, at approximately eleven thirty eight a m. 213 00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:52.559 The quiet routine of a supermarket in Ford Dice, Arkansas 214 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:56.720 was shattered by an act of unimaginable violence. The shooter, 215 00:14:56.919 --> 00:14:59.279 a forty four year old man armed with a Mosburg 216 00:14:59.320 --> 00:15:02.320 twelve gage show shot gun and nine millimeters pistol, began 217 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:04.879 his assault in the parking lot of the Mad Butcher's 218 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:09.399 Supermarket near US Route seventy nine before moving inside the store, 219 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:12.799 turning a place of everyday commerce into a scene of 220 00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:18.600 chaos and terror. The attack resulted in a devastating fourteen casualties. 221 00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:23.679 Four innocent people were killed, ten were wounded. Among those injured, 222 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:27.399 were eight civilians and two dedicated law enforcement officers who 223 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:32.639 responded to the unfolding crisis. When five officers from the 224 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:36.919 Dallas County Sheriff's Office and Fordy's Police Department arrived, the 225 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:39.840 shooter exited the store and engaged them in a shootout 226 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:43.159 in the parking lot, a confrontation that ultimately led to 227 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:47.360 his apprehension. The shooter, a resident of New Edinburgh, Arkansas, 228 00:15:47.559 --> 00:15:49.200 was known in the community as the owner of a 229 00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:52.639 landscaping and trucking service. While the specific motives of his 230 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:56.759 actions are under investigation, his past includes a twenty eleven 231 00:15:56.879 --> 00:16:00.000 arrest for criminal possession of a weapon after at tennis 232 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:02.519 to bring a firearm through the gates of Fort Drummond, 233 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:21.559 New York. Appalachi High School in winder Georgio. Appalachi High 234 00:16:21.559 --> 00:16:24.320 School became the scene of a horrific tragedy on Wednesday, 235 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:28.279 September fourth, twenty twenty four, at approximately ten twenty am, 236 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:31.279 a fourteen year old freshman's student armed with a six 237 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:34.720 hour M four hundred semi automatic rifle, which was AR 238 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:38.919 fifteen styled, opened fire inside the school, transforming a place 239 00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:42.720 of learning into a battleground. The school was immediately placed 240 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:46.200 on lockdown, and law enforcement responded with remarkable speed, arriving 241 00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:50.120 within minutes. The attack claimed the lives of four individuals, 242 00:16:50.320 --> 00:16:54.480 two students and two dedicated teachers, and left nine others wounded, 243 00:16:54.679 --> 00:16:59.200 including eight students and one teacher. This devastating incident marked 244 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:03.039 the deadliest school shooting in George's history, sending shockwaves through 245 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:06.799 the state and the nation. The shooter's motive is still 246 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:10.880 under investigation, but a deeply disturbing history of concerning behaviors 247 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:14.279 has emerged, painting a picture of a troubled young individual 248 00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:18.440 on a pathway to violence. His father allegedly purchased the 249 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:20.799 rifle used in the attack as a Christmas gift for 250 00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:24.400 his son, despite having been previously warned by the Jackson 251 00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:28.519 County Sheriff's Office and FBI about the shooter's threats. He 252 00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:32.559 expressed a fascination the shooter did with other mass shooters 253 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:36.240 and had documented homicidal and suicidal thoughts. He had been 254 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:39.680 due to start therapy after previous false starts, and his 255 00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:43.480 family had a history of interactions with multiple child welfare workers, 256 00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:47.319 school systems, sheriff's departments, and police agencies, many of whom 257 00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:51.799 reportedly ignored or did not respond to reported concerns about 258 00:17:51.880 --> 00:17:56.559 child abuse. In a chilling document titled War against Humanity 259 00:17:57.079 --> 00:18:00.200 found at his home, the shooter described humanity as filth 260 00:18:00.599 --> 00:18:03.559 and detailed how he had obtained firearms through lies and 261 00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:08.279 manipulation and my father's stupidity. He had also engaged in 262 00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:12.920 online discussions about planning mass attacks and expressed profound feelings 263 00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:18.400 of alienation. On Saturday, June fifteenth, twenty twenty four, at 264 00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:21.839 approximately five eleven pm, a warm summer day at the 265 00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:25.920 Brooklyn's Plaza splash pad in Rochester Hills, Michigan, turned into 266 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:29.680 a scene of unimaginable chaos and fear. The shooter, a 267 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:32.279 forty two year old man, armed with two nine millimeter 268 00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:36.759 glock handguns, fired thirty six rounds into a crowd, targeting 269 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:40.920 families and children. The attack wounded nine people, including two 270 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:44.799 innocent children, forever altering their lives and the sense of 271 00:18:44.839 --> 00:18:48.960 safety in their community. Following the shooting, the shooter fled 272 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:51.200 the scene and was later found dead from a self 273 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:54.319 inflicted gunshot wound at his mother's home after a tense 274 00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:58.880 standoff with police. The shooter, an unemployed resident of Shelby, township. 275 00:18:59.079 --> 00:19:01.799 Had no prior cre criminal history, but was described by 276 00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:05.759 relatives and neighbors as a quiet and loner individual who 277 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:11.359 privately struggled with significant mental health challenges, including paranoid delusions 278 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:14.799 that the government was spying on him. While his specific 279 00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:18.440 motive remains undetermined, the discovery of an air style rifle 280 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:21.160 on a kitchen countertop in his home led police to 281 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:23.519 believe that he may have been preparing for a second, 282 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:28.039 even more devastating attack, and we covered this in episode 283 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:34.160 one seventeen of our podcast. The new school year began 284 00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:37.960 with tragedy on Thursday, January fourth, twenty twenty four, at 285 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:41.920 approximately seven thirty five am, when Perry High School in Perry, 286 00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:45.200 Iowa became the target of a shooting. The shooter was 287 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:47.759 a seventeen year old student armed with a shotgun and 288 00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:53.079 a handgun, and opened fire inside the school. The attack 289 00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:58.039 resulted in eight casualties. Two people were killed, a beloved 290 00:19:58.079 --> 00:20:01.759 faculty member and a young student, and six were wounded, 291 00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:05.279 including two faculty members, four students, and the school principal. 292 00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:08.799 The shooter died by suicide at the scene before law 293 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:13.480 enforcement arrived. Investigators also located and rendered safe and improvised 294 00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:17.640 explosive device within the school. The shooter was described by 295 00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:20.400 friends and his mother as a quiet individual who had 296 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:24.960 endured years of bullying. They speculated that the last straw 297 00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:28.119 might have been the school official's failure to intervene when 298 00:20:28.119 --> 00:20:31.839 his younger sister also began to be bullied. The investigation 299 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:35.799 concluded that the shooter worked alone, driven by a desire 300 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:38.759 to commit suicide with the hostile intent of taking others 301 00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:42.240 with him, and we covered this in episode one fourteen 302 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:47.279 of our podcast. On Monday December sixteenth, twenty twenty four, 303 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:50.079 at around ten fifty seven a m. The Abundant Life 304 00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:54.839 Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin experienced a devastating shooting. The shooter, 305 00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:58.400 a fifteen year old female student, armed with a handgun, 306 00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:02.240 began shooting individuals in seaside the school during a mixed 307 00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:06.319 grade study hall. The attack resulted in eight casualties. Two 308 00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:09.079 people were killed, a student and a staff member, and 309 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:12.680 six were wounded, including five students and one teacher. The 310 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:19.160 shooter died by suicide at the scene. Her history revealed 311 00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:21.920 a deeply troubled individual. She had a documented history of 312 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:25.119 mental health issues, including suicidal threats and self cutting and 313 00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:31.240 had been enrolled in therapy. Police were investigating whether bullying 314 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:37.519 played a role in her actions. The twenty four active 315 00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:41.480 shooter incidents in twenty twenty four were geographically dispersed across 316 00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:45.720 nineteen states, underscoring of the widespread nature of this threat 317 00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:50.039 across the nation. Texas experienced the highest frequency of incidents, 318 00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:54.440 with four occurrences. California and North Carolina each recorded two incidents. 319 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:59.960 The remaining sixteen states Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana. 320 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:04.640 In the Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin, 321 00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:10.400 and Wyoming each reported one active shooter incident. When examining 322 00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:14.839 casualties by state, Arkansas registered the highest number, with fourteen 323 00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:19.079 resulting entirely from a single incident, highlighting that even a 324 00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:23.839 single event can have a disproportionately high human cost. Georgia 325 00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:28.039 followed with thirteen casualties, in Texas with eleven. Notably, Oklahoma 326 00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:31.640 and Tennessee each had one incident but reported no casualties. 327 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:38.400 Incidents were distributed across various population densities. Six incidents occurred 328 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:41.920 in locations with a population greater than five hundred thousand 329 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:46.200 the largest share. Eight incidents occurred in areas with populations 330 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:49.039 between ten and two hundred and fifty thousand, while four 331 00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:52.480 incidents were recorded in locations with populations between two hundred 332 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:56.680 and fifty and five hundred thousand. Now, this diverse geographical 333 00:22:56.920 --> 00:23:01.599 and population distribution reinforces the notion that no community is 334 00:23:01.880 --> 00:23:07.440 immune and preparedness must be a universal priority. An examination 335 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:10.759 of the temporal patterns of twenty twenty four active shooter 336 00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:15.000 incidents reveals distinct concentrations by month, day of the week, 337 00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:18.839 and time of day, offering potential insights for targeted prevention. 338 00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:23.519 A temporal pattern refers to a recurring sequence of events 339 00:23:23.559 --> 00:23:27.200 or behaviors that occur over time. In terms of monthly distribution, 340 00:23:27.640 --> 00:23:31.000 June recorded the highest number of incidents with five, followed 341 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:34.480 by September with four. The months of March in October 342 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:38.200 reported no active shooter incidents compared to twenty twenty three, 343 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:42.000 September saw the most significant monthly increase in incidents from 344 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:45.119 two to four, while April experienced the greatest decrease from 345 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:48.400 seven to one. Now, analyzing the day of the week, 346 00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:53.240 Monday consistently registered the highest number of incidents with seven occurrences. 347 00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:57.200 Sunday and Tuesday had the lowest with only one. Thursday 348 00:23:57.319 --> 00:23:59.799 was the sole day that experienced an increase in incidents 349 00:23:59.880 --> 00:24:02.799 can compared to twenty twenty three from five to six, 350 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:06.799 whereas Saturday saw the most substantial decrease from nine to two. 351 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:10.599 Regarding the time of day, the period from six am 352 00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:13.839 to eleven fifty nine am accounted for the most incidents 353 00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:18.240 with nine occurrences. The broader twelve hour window from six 354 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:21.359 am to five point fifty nine pm collectively represented the 355 00:24:21.400 --> 00:24:25.640 majority of the incidents, totaling fifteen or sixty two percent 356 00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:30.119 of all active shooter events in twenty twenty four. The 357 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:35.079 observed concentrations of incidents on Mondays and during morning hours 358 00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:39.920 suggests potential underlying behavioral or situational drivers. This pattern could 359 00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:42.440 be linked to the start of the typical worker school week, 360 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:47.079 periods of increased public activity or heightened individual stressors often 361 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:51.880 associated with these routines. This clustering presents opportunities for targeted 362 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:56.400 prevention and security measures. For example, increased law enforcement presence 363 00:24:56.480 --> 00:25:00.839 or public awareness campaigns encouraging vigilance and reporting could be 364 00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:06.119 strategically timed to maximize impact during these identified high risk periods. 365 00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:11.720 Understanding these temporal rhythms allows for a more efficient deployment 366 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:17.519 of resources and proactive communication with the public. In twenty 367 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:20.400 twenty four, active shooter incidents occurred across five of the 368 00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:25.599 seven location categories identified by the FBI. The open space 369 00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:29.720 category accounted for the largest population, with twelve incidents fifty 370 00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:33.119 percent of the total. Commerce and education each saw four 371 00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:38.319 incidents seventeen percent each, Government locations experienced three incidents thirteen percent, 372 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:41.920 and house of worship locations had one incident totally to 373 00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:45.599 four percent. Notably, no active shooter incidents were reported in 374 00:25:45.640 --> 00:25:49.119 healthcare or residence categories in twenty twenty four. Per the 375 00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:53.839 FBI's definition. A significant trend observed over the past five 376 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:57.119 years twenty twenty to twenty twenty four is that open 377 00:25:57.319 --> 00:26:00.880 space has emerged as the location category with the highest 378 00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:04.279 number of incidents, recording ninety two, which is forty one 379 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:08.319 percent of the total, surpassing commerce locations which had eighty 380 00:26:08.359 --> 00:26:12.960 eight incidents. This shift in the primary location category presents 381 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:18.440 a massive challenge for traditional security paradigms. Open spaces, by 382 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:22.680 their very nature, are difficult to secure through conventional access 383 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:27.000 controller physical barriers. This implies a dire need for evolving 384 00:26:27.079 --> 00:26:31.599 prevention and response strategies focusing more on community vigilance, public 385 00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:36.119 reporting mechanisms, rapid mobile law enforcement deployment, and potentially even 386 00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:40.880 urban design considerations to mitigate risks in these diffuse and 387 00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:46.000 accessible environments. The very openness that defines these spaces makes 388 00:26:46.039 --> 00:26:51.279 them inherently vulnerable to rapid, unpredictable attacks, demanding a reevaluation 389 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:54.759 of how public safety is conceived and implemented in such settings. 390 00:26:56.279 --> 00:27:00.400 The distribution of casualties varied significantly across location category worries, 391 00:27:00.920 --> 00:27:04.640 highlighting the differing levels of lethality depending on the environment. 392 00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:09.519 In open space, these twelve incidents resulted in forty five casualties, 393 00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:13.440 three killed, forty two wounded, averaging four casualties per incident. 394 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:18.000 Commerce the four incidents in commerce locations led to twenty 395 00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:22.279 three casualties eight killed, fifteen wounded, averaging six casualties per incident, 396 00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:28.279 despite having only four incidents. The education category recorded thirty 397 00:27:28.359 --> 00:27:32.599 one casualties eight killed, twenty three wounded, yielding the highest 398 00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:36.319 average of eight casualties per incident among all categories. This 399 00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:39.960 figure is well it's hard to hear as it underscores 400 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:44.599 the extreme vulnerability of education environments, where the concentration of individuals, 401 00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:49.519