Profiling Colorado Killer

By Laura Benjamin

Yes, I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado and yes, our community is stunned from the tragedy that occurred here at New Life Church and in Arvada, Colorado this past weekend. I’m sure it’s probably not much different than the way folks have been feeling in Omaha NE. Or in the countless other communities where senseless loss of life occurs. It seems we’ve had more than our share of it when you consider the gunman in Bailey CO and the horror of Columbine.

We sat at the dinner table last night trying to make some sense of it all. I’m very fortunate to have two wonderful sons and a great daughter in the same age range as the young man who committed this most recent atrocity. About the same time we sat down to eat, we learned of yet another youth shooting as high schoolers in Las Vegas got off their school bus.

Now, I don’t mean to simplify the complexity of what goes on in the heads of a young person (or even old person) who would pick up a gun and use it as a way to settle disputes or take out one’s frustrations. Obviously there has to be something mentally amiss. Obviously in a few of these cases, people weren’t paying close enough attention to what could possibly happen. You can argue all day that society let these troubled young people down, especially the young man who was bounced from one foster home to another.
My heart breaks for any young person who is described as a “lost puppy”. The last words from the Omaha shooter’s suicide note, “…I love you mommy…” still tightens my throat as I think of any young person feeling confused, frustrated, unwanted or lonely.

But does that minimize the impact of the crimes that were committed? No, not on your life.
And every time something like this happens, I wonder - surely at this point in time we know enough about the profiles of these people to keep it from happening. Certainly we have enough data, enough historical evidence to be able to anticipate who will snap and take people with them.
And in fact we do. I’ve written about this gentleman’s work before and sadly, because of the most recent circumstances it’s time to promote him again…

Dan Korem specializes in behavioral profiling. Yes, I said “profiling”. The term has been given dirty word status, but I stand behind the importance of profiling people’s BEHAVIORS in order to anticipate people’s actions to minimize the harm they can cause to others. Years ago, I was fortunate to speak at a professional association event where Dan was also presenting and purchased his book, The Art of Profiling. His subsequent book, Rage of the Random Actor, is particularly relevant right now, don’t ya think?

Here’s what I think: We need more training. We need to speak up much more often when all the signs point to potential for tragedy. Matthew Murray was sending hate mail to the youth ministry from which he was ejected years ago. While some say hindsite is always 20-20, this should have been a strong indication that the young man was dangerous and unpredictable.

Yes, we MUST profile people’s behaviors to keep others safe. I’m going to recommend - once again - that you visit Dan’s site (and I get no compensation to refer you there or recommend his books, by the way). Read the research he’s posted on his site, buy his book(s), hire him to come to your organization and speak to your company, school or group. I guarantee you, you will be much more aware and informed.
While we may not be able to catch every tragedy before it happens, it’s very possible with additional education, that we can anticipate and stop many more. But to do so means we’ve got to take the anti-social, angry, vindictive behaviors seriously. We can’t afford to ignore the warning signs in the interest of being “oh so polite”. We cannot afford to stand silently by and think, “…well, it’s really not MY problem…I shouldn’t get involved…surely, someone else will handle this…”

No folks, it’s up to us each and every time we see something, hear something or read something that strikes us as just plain wrong.

If we don’t watch out for one another, and our children, who will?
Writing from Colorado Springs, Colorado,
Laura B.