What Warning Signs Were Ignored in the Oxford Shooting?

What can we learn from the Oxford shooting?

What can you do to prevent an active shooter event?

In the case of the Oxford High School shooting, there were multiple warning signs that lead up to the attack and many reports from parents, students, and teachers. Had these signs been properly reported, it’s possible that the event could have been prevented.

The shooter was making concerning posts on social media, had access to a gun, was searching for ammunition in class, leaked his plan on social media the night before, and on the day of drew an image of someone being shot. The school called in a meeting with the shooter’s parents that day, but the shooter was sent back to class and carried out the shooting later in the school day.

After all these warning signs, what went wrong?

Media reports and preliminary aspects of the investigation indicate that school officials failed to follow guidelines, including a thorough investigation. It appears that the student was never questioned about whether he was in possession of a gun. There was probable cause to search his backpack and locker, but reports indicate that was not done. Despite the parents' resistance, the student should not have been returned to class until a comprehensive investigation and a mental health assessment was conducted. According to a new lawsuit, the school didn’t inform the campus safety liaison of the shooter’s behavior and the liaison wasn’t included in the meeting.

Oxford High School is now facing $100M in lawsuits.

Learn more about the events of the Oxford shooting.

Active Assailant Prevention Is Possible When You See the Signs

It’s extremely rare that active assailants “just snap.” The typical assailant will exhibit observable behavioral signs of violence before a violent event takes place. This is called the “pathway to violence.” If Oxford schools had listened to the parents and students who reported the shooter’s behavior on Nov. 16th and taken preventive action, the event may have been prevented.

Active assailant prevention can be achievable by reporting questionable behavior. Don’t leave anything up to chance. TPOP’s active shooter preparedness training can teach you to recognize violent behavioral indicators and respond accordingly. The training also features situational awareness, the Run, Hide, Fight methodology, response to injury, and more.

YOU can prevent events like these from occurring at your workplace. Let’s talk about preparedness training for your company today.