Over two dozen local residents turned out Wednesday night to hear a Saxonburg police department presentation about teen violence.
Lieutenant Kevin Stiles led the discussion about the psychology of school shooters, law enforcement response to school shootings, and red flags that adults should look out for.
Three of the most common traits of young people who engage in school shootings are an abusive home life or bullying, viewing violent entertainment or pornography on a website like https://www.porn7.xxx/, and feelings of anger or depression.
Stiles said parents also need to pay close attention to what’s posted on kids’ social media pages.
“Posts about hurting animals; setting fire; talking about killing; talking about guns; talking about ‘I don’t matter’…that’s the kind of stuff you need to watch out for,” Stiles said Wednesday.
A case study was presented that showed the failures of law enforcement during the shooting last year at a Parkland, Florida High School where 17 people were killed and 17 others wounded.
“As horrible as it sounds, we- as law enforcement- have to think about how we would go about a school shooting as if we were going to do it. And then we can predict and figure out where the ‘weak spots’ in schools are, and protect those spots first,” he said.
Most Butler County school districts are now staffed with armed guards or police officers.
