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News Profiling a campus killer Experts say no foolproof way to pick a shooter
[In the final installment of its safety series, The Merciad spoke with internationally known criminal profiler Brent Turvey and the school's counseling staff to discover there is no set profile of a school shooter.]
By Joshua Wilwohl Editor-in-chief No one could have predicted that on Feb. 14, 2008, 27-year-old Steven Kazmierczak would walk onto the Northern Illinois University campus and shoot dead five students. Media have said Kazmierczak forgot to take his medication. Other reports say Kazmierczak just snapped. For world-renowned criminal profiler Brent Turvey, it’s too early to tell the motive behind Kazmierczak’s killings. Turvey, an adjunct lecturer at Bond University in Robina, Australia, and author of Criminal Profiling, Third Edition: An Introduction to Behavioral Evidence Analysis, said it’s more than difficult to predict or even point out a person who could commit a school shooting. “There is no way to predict any crime, only anticipate the possibility that crime can or may occur,” he said. “The most important thing is that there really isn’t a profile of a school shooter.” Turvey says the stereotype that a school shooter is one that suffers from depression, wears black all the time, and talks about death is a bogus label. “The way the teenage mind works, (they) actually gravitate towards…negativity, but that’s just them working out their frustrations,” he said. “This could mean dyeing your hair black or whatever, but it doesn’t mean he’s a killer.” He said most people think: Dark hair, dark shirt…must be a killer. “Teenagers who are trying to work out their personality may emulate or address their mannerisms from those who use violence such as thug and gang music that is all about violence, but does not necessarily result in violence,” he said. “They adopt (these characteristics), but do not emulate violence.” Dr. Judy Smith, Mercyhurst College’s counseling center director, said there are certain red flags people can look for that could spark violence in a person. “We don’t have a great ability to predict who’s going to walk in with a gun,” she said. Smith said some of the “red flags” are social isolation, students who perceive themselves as socially unaccepted and have an “axe to grind” with someone, and preoccupation with weapons, violence, guns, and paramilitary action. “When those individuals (who exhibit some red flags) get stressed, then you could have a problem,” she said. Both Turvey and Smith said these types of crimes usually end in suicide, but are sparked by anger, revenge, or jealousy. Turvey said Seung-Hui Cho, who shot dead 32 students at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007, is an ultimate example of anger. “This was utter narcissism bred by spending time alone,” said Turvey. “He thought this is the gateway to fame, the gateway to celebrity.” As for Kazmierczak at Northern Illinois University, Turvey says it’s too soon to tell. “To figure out why he did it, we have to figure out who he shot,” he said. “He didn’t involve his girlfriend, and it could have been a mental illness if he was off his medication, but, every mentally ill person is not a school shooter.” Smith said people who go through with school shootings do so ultimately to kill themselves. “It’s been pretty clear that those who go in to do these shootings go in to kill themselves as well,” she said. “There’s some sort of suicidal element that’s different than killers on the street.” Smith said those who commit school shootings look for a way out of life. “(Those doing) the shootings don’t expect to get out,” she said. “It’s more of a goodbye event.” She said school shooters usually are people that “…think they don’t mean much in this world.” Turvey stresses, though, there is no single profile of a campus shooter, and those who are considered “outcasts,” should not be ignored. “If you think someone is troubled, talk to them and learn what they say,” he said. “Have them talk about their hopes and dreams and then you won’t be afraid of them.” Smith agrees. “You don’t have to be afraid of those depressed,” she said. “Treat them with respect and politeness to make life a little easier.” Smith said, though, if any student starts to exhibit certain “red flags,” students should contact the residence life office at (814) 824-2422. “If there’s a roommate who is always angry, looking at guns online, talking about hurting someone else, then someone (should be notified),” she said. Smith urges not to call the counseling center if this occurs because there is very little they are able to do until residence life is involved. Turvey said if students do discuss killing a person, then it’s something to take seriously. “All threats must be taken seriously,” he said. “If a student just jokes around about murder, then this is its own red flag for a deficient or misplaced value system.” Other parts of the series: 3-part safety series: Arming police & safety School has no plans to arm officers Former Northern Illinois University graduate student Steven Kazmierczak shot dead five students in less than two minutes on Feb. 14 in the university’s Cole Hall. It took campus police under 30 seconds to respond. If an incident such as a shooter were to occur on the Mercyhurst College campus, the school’s police and safety officers would have nothing to protect themselves with since they do not carry firearms, said Rodger Gregorich, Mercyhurst’s police and safety director.
ResLife chiefs: College prepared for emergencies Three-part series explores safety concerns at Mercyhurst College Mercyhurst College students have no need to worry about campus safety say Gerry Tobin and Laura Zirkle, the college’s vice president and assistant vice president for student life. The two residence life chiefs said Mercyhurst has an emergency plan ready for any disaster that could occur on campus, such as that which struck Northern Illinois University on Feb. 14 when former graduate student Steven P. Kazmierczak shot 22 people, killing five, and then fatally shot himself.
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