Rampage violence requires a new type of research

Comparison of rampage and non-rampage mass shootings in the U.S.: A 5-year demographic analysis

BACKGROUND

Rampage mass shootings (RMS) are a subset of mass shootings occurring in public involving random victims. Due to rarity, RMS are not well-characterized. We aimed to compare RMS and NRMS. We hypothesized that RMS and NRMS would be significantly different with respect to time/season, location, demographics, victim number/fatality rate, victims being law enforcement, and firearm characteristics.

STUDY DESIGN

Mass shootings (4 or more victims shot at a single event) from 2014-2018 were identified in the Gun Violence Archive (GVA). Data were collected from the public domain (e.g. news). Crude comparisons between NRMS and RMS were performed using Chi-squared or Fisher's exact tests. Parametric models of victim and perpetrator characteristics were conducted at the event level using negative binomial regression and logistic regression.

RESULTS

There were 46 RMS and 1626 NRMS. RMS occurred most in businesses (43.5%), whereas NRMS occurred most in streets (41.1%), homes (28.6%), and bars (17.9%). RMS were more likely to occur between 6AM-6PM (OR=9.0 (4.8-16.8)). RMS had more victims per incident (23.6 vs. 4.9, RR: 4.8 (4.3,5.4)). Casualties of RMS were more likely to die (29.7% vs. 19.9%, OR: 1.7 (1.5,2.0)). RMS were more likely to have at least one police casualty (30.4% versus 1.8%, OR: 24.1 (11.6,49.9)) or police death (10.9% versus 0.6%, OR: 19.7 (6.4,60.3)). RMS had significantly greater odds that casualties were adult (OR: 1.3 (1.0,1.6)) and female (OR: 1.7 (1.4,2.1)). Deaths in RMS were more likely to be female (OR: 2.0 (1.5,2.5)) and White (OR: 8.6 (6.2,12.0) and less likely to be children (OR: 0.4 (0.2,0.8)). Perpetrators of RMS were more likely to die by suicide (34.8%), be killed by police (28.3%), or be arrested at the scene (26.1%), while more than half of perpetrators from NRMS escaped without death or apprehension (55.8%). Parametric models of perpetrator demographics indicated significant increases in the odds that a RMS shooter was White (OR: 13.9 (7.3,26.6)) or Asian (OR: 16.9 (3.7,78.4)). There was no significant difference in weapon type used (p=0.35).

CONCLUSION

The demographics, temporality, and location differ between RMS and NRMS, suggesting that they are dissimilar and require different preventive approaches.

Violence and school shootings

Multiple-homicide school shootings are rare events, but when they happen they significantly impact individuals, the school and the community. We focus on multiple-homicide incidents and identified mental health issues of shooters. To date, studies of school shootings have concluded that no reliable profile of a shooter exists, so risk should be assessed using comprehensive threat assessment protocols. Existing studies primarily utilize retrospective case histories or media accounts. The field requires more empirical and systematic research on all types of school shootings including single victim incidents, those that result in injury but not death and those that are successfully averted. We discuss current policies and practices related to school shootings and the role of mental health professionals in assessing risk and supporting surviving victims.