Newtown Shooting Report Released: Critical Information Concern/Warning Signs

Today the Report of the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District on the Shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 4, 2012 was released.

Before expressing my response to the report, it is critical to have the fire of sensitivity, empathy and compassion remain ignited forever in our hearts for all who have suffered from this tragedy.

Although the report presents a wide array of pertinent information; I have a concern on an issue which I believe is critical yet missing.

The evidence clearly shows that the shooter planned his actions, including the taking of his own life, but there is no clear indication why he did so, or why he targeted Sandy Hook Elementary School The report states.

Although the motive is missing and may never be known; my concern is the killer had significant mental health issues that affected his ability to have a normal life and to interact with others according to the report. Despite these significant mental health issues, he had access to such a lethal arsenal of weapons.

I was hopeful the report would address if he had access to these weapons (understood to be facilitated by his mother) without anyone being aware of his significant mental health issues (commonly referred to as warning signs) ever expressing concerns to law enforcement and/or mental health professionals.

Warning signs have been such a critical aspect of school, campus, domestic and workplace violence and an abundance of caution with significant mental health issues especially when there is gun access, must always be reported and responded to by appropriate professionals.

Despite my concern, the heroism of law enforcement and school staff on that fateful day as cited in the closing words of today's report are worthy of attention:

...law enforcement arrived at Sandy Hook Elementary School within minutes of the first shots being fired. They went into the school to save those inside with the knowledge that someone might be waiting to take their lives. It is also clear that the staff of Sandy Hook Elementary School acted heroically in trying to protect the children. The combination saved many lives.

Chardon High School Fatalities Rise: A Call for Compassion in American Schools-December 18, 2012 Post

As America mourns the senseless loss of a third student from Chardon High School, I am reminded of another school shooting tragedy in Ohio 5 years ago. The heart of my message posted on October 11, 2007 remains a clarion call to our nation. Schools must become communities of caring especially to those most in need. This compassion must be complimented by sound security practices including violence prevention, crisis management, school resource officers, security vulnerability assessments, bullying prevention and responding immediately to warning signs.

October 11, 2007 Blog

Missed Warning Signs: Teenage Gunman Wounds Four in Ohio School

On Wednesday, October 10, 2007, yet another incident of school violence took place at a high school in Cleveland, Ohio. A 14 year-old student, recently suspended and feeling alienated, sprayed a hail of bullets that left four people wounded. He then turned the gun on himself and took his own life.

As time will tell, this was another preventable incident in which the shooter displayed warning signs and those in charge once again failed to respond appropriately.

When will we learn? Our schools must become communities of caring. We must recognize those in need and work to provide them opportunities to move from isolation to community.

Can we prevent ALL incidents of violence in our schools. Perhaps not; but we must challenge ourselves to recognize the warning signs and stop EVERY act that IS preventable.

We must put into practice the recommendations from the many extraordinary documents on recognizing and responding to warning signs, threat assessment and crisis management.

[Reprinted from the Google News website – http://afp.google.com/article/ ALeqM5jCwJ5mRi92v0h9yKDWDQcl5Y56ug]

The boy was described by other students as a loner and devil worshiper who had made jokes about shooting other students in front of teachers.

"He said if he would shoot up the school he'd let me and some other dude go, but I didn't think he meant it," an unidentified student told news station WKYC.

"I didn't think he meant it," he said. "I thought he just said it because he wanted to be popular."

WKYC reported the boy was frustrated after he was suspended from school for getting into a fist fight over a Marilyn Manson song on Monday.

Police said they believed the boy went to school to shoot his teachers. One was shot in the back and another was shot in the chest. Both were in stable condition, officials said.

"We don't have any specific motives at this time," police chief Michael McGrath told a press conference.

"We do know the shooter had some disciplinary problems," he added.

The boy, identified as Asa Coon, was arrested in 2006 on charges of domestic violence, and police had visited his home for other reasons on a number of occasions, McGrath said.

READ MORE

AFP News Article	Click here to visit site
Early Warning, Timely Response: A Guide to Safe Schools – August 1998	Click here to visit site
Safeguarding Our Children: An Action Guide – April 2000	Click here to visit site
THE FINAL REPORT AND FINDINGS OF THE SAFE SCHOOL INITIATIVE: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PREVENTION OF SCHOOL ATTACKS IN THE UNITED STATES – May 2002	Click here to visit site
PRACTICAL INFORMATION ON CRISIS PLANNING: A GUIDE FOR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES – May 2003	Click here to visit site
THREAT ASSESSMENT IN SCHOOLS: A GUIDE TO MANAGING THREATENING SITUATIONS AND TO CREATING SAFE SCHOOL CLIMATES-May 2002	Click here to visit site