Types of Killing

Legal/ Justifiable Homicide Murder Single

Serial

Multiple

Spree

Mass

Defining Multiple Murder

Type of Multicide

Minimum Number of Victims

Time Span

Murder Locations

Mass Murder 4+

Minutes to hours

Single to several

Serial Murder

3+

Months to years Multiple

Spree Murder

2+

Days to weeks

Multiple

Defining Mass Murder

The anti-social and non-state-sponsored killing of multiple victims during a single episode at one or more closely related locations.
Time period is within 24 hours Location and distance can be ignored About 3 cases every 30 days 5 victims per incident on average (180/year)

Mass Murder
Example: Jerry Hessler, Columbus, 1995
Killed 4 people, including a baby Injured 2 others Had list of others he wanted to kill Long history of mental disorders Severe depression Borderline PD Dependent PD Passive Aggressive PD Delusional disorder Intermittent explosive disorder Poor relationship history Fired from job Gave warnings he would settle the score

Example: James Huberty, San Ysidro, CA, 1984

Society had its chance. Im going hunting. Hunting for humans.

Mass Murder

Killed 21 and wounded 19 at a McDonalds Used an 9mm Uzi semiautomatic, Winchester pump action 12 gauge shotgun, and 9mm Browning HP History of brain injury Parental Abandonment Poor employment history Violent social history Gave warning signs to wife.

Example: Charles Whitman, Austin, 1966

Mass Murder

I have been a victim of many unusual and irrational thoughts. Killed 16 and wounded 32 IQ of 138, alter boy, baseball player, pianist Eagle Scout at 12 Father was violent Former Marine Court martialed for gambling, carrying gun, and threatening another Marine Attended UT Suffered from depression Gave warning to psychiatrist oozing with hostility Murdered wife and mother Had brain tumor

Example: Richard Speck, Chicago, 1966 "It just wasn't their night."

Mass Murder

Issues
Little professional research Why?
o Not a challenge o Not as scary Small geography Offender is dead Not sexual/sadistic

Patterns
Location
70% occur in the workplace, public street, or school Weekday mornings Smaller towns/rural areas

Patterns
Victim Characteristics
40% family members 40% acquaintances Most are intraracial Females more likely to be victims

Patterns
Motive Power Revenge Loyalty Profit Terror

Fox & Levin

Typology of multiple murder, not just serial murder:

Fox & Levins Motivational Typology

The Power Killer

Most common

Donald Harvey Angel of Death

Julian Knight Hoodle Street Masssacre

Fox & Levins Motivational Typology

The Revenge Killer

Ronald Gene Simmons

Marc Lepine

William Cruse

"I have decided to send to death the feminists who have always ruined my life

Fox & Levins Motivational Typology

The Loyalty Killer

Murder out of love or loyalty

Manson Family
David Koresh James Colbert

Fox & Levins Motivational Typology

The Profit Killer

Killing is instrumental rather than expressive

Dorothea Puente

Adolfo Constanzo

Wah Mee Massacre

Fox & Levins Motivational Typology

The Terror Killer

Killer wants to send a message

Charles Manson Chicago Tylenol Poisonings

Patterns
Weapon
Almost always use a firearm. Difficult to kill a large number of people without one.
John Mallett, Columbus, Ohio 2012

Patterns
End Result:
Offender often dies at the scene Typically plan a murder suicide

Forms of Mass Murder

Mullen (2004)

Victim Specific

Instrumental

Massacres

Family Revenge Cult Terrorist Felony Related Indiscriminate

Gang

Emotional/Emotionless
Declercq & Audenaert (2011)

Affective

Predatory

Types of Mass Murderers

Holmes and Holmes (2001)/Deitz (1986) Disciple Killer Family Annihilator Killer Disgruntled Employee Killer Ideological Killer The PseudoCommando Set and Run Killer Disgruntled Citizen Killer Psychotic Killer School Shooter Profit-motivated Murder for sex

Contributing Factors
Predisposing Precipitating Factors Factors Facilitating Factors

Predisposing Factors
Long histories of frustration, humiliation, and repeated failures Negative self image Depression Lack of coping ability Externalization of blame

Precipitating Factors
Short term acute triggers Sudden loss or threat of loss
Job Relationship Financial Bullying

Some kind of final straw

Facilitating Factors
Social isolation Loner Brain pathology Psychiatric illness Grandiose & obsessional traits Sense of entitlement

Cumulative Strain
Fox & Madfis (2009)

Stage One
Chronic Strain Bullying Family Problems Workplace Failures Financial Difficulties Chronic Rejection

Stage Two Uncontrolled Strain

Lack of social support Deviant peer groups Lack of conventional bonds

Stage Three Acute Strain

Recent catastrophic loss Humiliation Rejection last straw

Stage Four: The Planning Stage

Involved, sometimes lengthy planning Days years Rational Immorality Gendered Performance

Stage Five: The Massacre

Firearm Access Firearm Proficiency Access to crowds Lack of guardianship

Mass Murderer Characteristics

*This is not a profile*
Male (93.8%) White (61.7%) Over 30 (40.3%) Warrior Mentality Externalizes Blame Loners Atypical Behaviors/Cluster B Personality Traits

Mass Murder Characteristics

Hickey (2009)

They give little thought or concern to inevitable capture or death They commit crime in public places

Their motive is retaliatory; based on rejection, failure, or loss of autonomy The offense is an effort to regain a degree of control over their lives

Mass Murderer Characteristics

Defining characteristics Experienced a lifetime of frustration, humiliation, and failure Externalization of blame Oozing with anger Fascination with guns/weapons/violence History of mental illness (e.g., depression, antisocial PD, borderline PD, narcissistic PD, intermittent explosive disorder, conduct disorder) Social isolation Recent loss

Prevention
Target hardening ineffective Prediction schemes ineffective/unreliable

Threat assessment:
Low Level of Threat Threat is vague Threat is implausible/inconsistent Content of threat suggests person unlikely to carry it out Medium Level of Threat Direct concrete threat Some details Possible place & time articulated Indication of prepatory steps, but vague Statements of intent Im serious. High Level of Threat Threat is direct, specific, and plausible Threat suggests concrete steps taken in preparation Weapon acquired/victims under surveillance

Prevention
Reduce chronic strain
o o o o Bullying prevention Social Support for those at risk Recognize difference between the troubled and the troublesome Promote constructive images of masculinity

Listen
o 80% reveal their plans to someone, 59% to two or more people.

Gun availability
o o o o Background checks Eliminate loopholes Limit automatic weapons Ban high capacity magazines

Limit publicity/notoriety

Surviving an Attack:
Run
If there is an escape path, attempt to leave Leave whether others agree to do so or not Leave belongings behind Help others escape Prevent others from entering area Call 911 when safe

Hide
Lock or blockade door Turn off lights/cell phone ringer Hide behind large objects Dont trap yourself or restrict options for movement Remain quiet

Fight (last resort)

Improvise weapons Commit to taking shooter down no matter what Act with physical aggression Attempt to incapacitate the shooter