In the coming days it is expected that the “Manifesto” written by the shooter at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee will be released. Six people including three children and three adults were killed. The shooter was killed by police. 

The media is hungry for any writings by the killer. The public wants to know what goes through the mind of a person who kills the innocent. We all hope whatever it contains leads to preventing these tragedies in the future. Without knowing any of the content or anything about the shooter here are nine vital questions to look for in the shooter’s history and writings:

1. Does the writer have a history of mental illness with a propensity for violence? Only 25% of shooters have a documented diagnosis prior to the attack. Two-thirds of shooters have behaviors of concern in the mental health sphere. Over half have observed concerns with interpersonal reactions, and quality of thinking. The absence of a documented risk towards violence does not mean that a mixture of violence and mental illness was absent. Note that there is no definition of “normal” which includes a person murdering innocent lives. 
2. Was the shooter on any medications that increase the risk for aggression, suicidal ideation, anger and mood swings? 
3. Is there a history of being the bully as a youth? Two-thirds of shooters have a history of being abusive, oppressive or harassing others. 
4. Were there strong, stable adult relationships in the shooter’s life? A predictor of stability in youth is the existence of at least one healthy stable relationship. With school age students there are many adults who watch for behaviors of concern. In the vast majority of cases appropriate intervention helps the students, thus, preventing a problem.  But once someone has left school and ties with caring adults ends, the risk increases. Even for shooters who live with parents the relationships may be distant, troubled, deceitful and guarded about revealing their plans and thoughts.
5. Did the shooter have recent stressors? Active shooters have an average of 3.6 stressors in the prior year to the attack. What were they? And how were they handled?
6. Does the quality of writing in the document show evidence of delusions, paranoia, bizarre, loose associations and indications of psychotic thinking?
7. Is there content in the shooter’s writings indicative of personality disorders such as extreme narcissism? Narcissistic personality disorders have an inflated sense of superiority over others, a lack of empathy, a deep need for attention, experience difficulties with emotional intimacy, an unrealistic sense of entitlement, deny a role in their own problems, while blaming others. When narcissists cannot control others they may react with threats, and anger. The suicidal act is sometimes viewed by a shooter as a way of giving them notoriety and continuing the narcissistic sense of self-importance. Even a suicidal act can be self-justified as a way of inflicting permanent pain on others as revenge for feelings of rejection.
8. Was the plan and content of the manifesto made public to anyone well before the incident? Most shooters give a few warnings. Investigators always ask: Who knew? Was it reported? What action followed? In this case, published reports say the shooter did tell a friend, “I’m planning to die today,” and indicated it would be on the news adding, “Something bad is about to happen.”  The friend called the county sheriff’s office at the very moment police received the 911 call of the active shooter. That friend was on hold for several minutes before finally speaking with someone. 
9. How will others react to the manifesto in the future?  This is the issue of greatest concern, especially when it contains hateful content. Sad to say, one person’s terrorist is another person’s hero. The shooters at the Emmanuel Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston and the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh both wrote extensively about their grievances. Most see such writings as abhorrent. Tragically, a few others view the words as justifiable in their own prejudiced minds. Anyone who views the shooter’s behavior in Nashville as a justifiable act of grievance for whatever reason is a co-perpetrator of the same sort of bigotry and hate speech. 

So, as the information is released, don’t just think of what took place in the life and the mind of the shooter. Don’t just blame or excuse others. Don’t just dismiss it as a gun/religious/political/gender issue. Think of how it affects you.

Remember that the victims in this tragedy are the families, classmates, and community who survived this horrific trauma. It will haunt them for years. Their healing work will be formidable, and they need our prayers and support. Some will remain in despair; some will emerge with a stronger faith. 

Unfortunately, we live in a world where anger, blame, hatred and bullying are more and more common. Search your own mind and heart. If any one of us keeps the flame of hate burning, we are an arsonist spreading the hate to others. If we want to change our culture of anger and violence, we must each start by changing ourselves. Therein lies your best hope, and ultimately the hope of all.