2. Making sense of Mass Shootings
When mass killers do not fit the “profile”
Stephen Paddock
64 yrs
546 injured
58 killed
No motive apparent
Within first 36hrs
Professor Craig Jackson
Head of the School of Social Sciences.
Birmingham City University

3. “Crazed Gunman firing randomly”
1. Social protest akin to slave revolts
A response by powerless (angry-men) to “Reaganomics” ?
2. “Randomness” is questionable in shootings
3. “Indiscriminate” shooting is more likely
Use of surprised unarmed helpless victims (easily over-powered)
Use of siege-easy, soft-target locations (schools, cinemas, shops)

4. Far away from the “Crazed Gunmen”

5. Far away from the “Random Shooter”

6. Mandalay Bay Hotel Shooting Route 91 Festival Shooting
Sun Oct 1st 2017
Stephen Paddock (64yrs) opens fire from hotel room window
Had 23 weapons in hotel room on 32nd floor overlooking the concert
Fires excess of 1,100 rounds (22:05-22:15)
Killed 58 people & injured 851
Paddock killed himself in hotel room
Motive still remains unclear

7. When mass killers do not fit the “profile”
Stephen Paddock
64 yrs
546 injured
58 killed
No motive apparent
Within first 36hrs

9. When mass killers do not fit the “profile”
Stephen Paddock
64 yrs
546 injured
58 killed
No motive apparent
Within first 36hrs

10. When mass killers do not fit the “profile”
Stephen Paddock
64 yrs
546 injured
58 killed
No motive apparent
Within first 36hrs

11. When mass killers do not fit the “profile”
Stephen Paddock
64 yrs
546 injured
58 killed
No motive apparent
Within first 36hrs

12. When mass killers do not fit the “profile”
Stephen Paddock
64 yrs
546 injured
58 killed
No motive apparent
Within first 36hrs

14. When mass killers do not fit the “profile”
Stephen Paddock
64 yrs
546 injured
58 killed
No motive apparent
Within first 36hrs

15. When mass killers do not fit the “profile”
Stephen Paddock
64 yrs
546 injured
58 killed
No motive apparent
Within first 36hrs

16. An unusual type of mass shooting
Stephen Paddock
64 yrs old
Relationship
Successful (financially)
851 injured
58 killed + Paddock
No motive apparent within first 36hrs
Height / distance from victims

17. Unusual but not unique Charles Whitman 25 yrs old Married
Student / Military
31 injured
16 killed

19. A Recent history of Spree Killing
Lenape Indian Spree
July 26th 1764

20. Bath School Disaster
Bath (Mi) School Disaster
May 18th 1927

21. Bath School Disaster

22. Bath School Disaster

23. Bath School Disaster

24. Modern-day Parallels Booby-traps Family annihilation
Distraction devices (bombs / IEDs)
Use of ‘media’ to protest innocence
Schools / colleges targeted
Manifestos
Use social media to justify their actions

25. Neuroticism

26. Common Mass Shooter Behaviours
Diminished ability to cope with stress*
Chronic tendency to blame others for disappointments*
Neuroticism*
High levels of Narcissism (sometimes Narcissistic Personality Disorder)*
Perceived “victim” status (Narcissistic Injury)*
Acute stress triggers / provoke decision to spree kill (job or relationship)*
Low impulse control*
Repeated pattern of failures (work and or personal life)
Pessimism about solutions
Suicidal / death ideation
Access to “offending space”
Slow psychological unravelling
Stockpiling

27. Any questions?