After Charlie Kirk killing, NU threat assessment expert talks about spotting warning signs
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — After the arrest of a suspect in the shooting death of Charlie Kirk on Friday, a Nebraska expert expressed sadness for how much attention someone can receive for violence.
Mario Scalora, the director of the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, is experienced in threat assessment and management of targeted violence.
He noted commonalities across those who commit such acts.
“Somebody who has a grievance of some type,” Scalora said. “You also have warning signs in advance of the act that maybe other people heard about but for whatever reason didn’t report.”
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He emphasized that it is too soon to make assumptions about the suspect and that it’s important to allow law enforcement to continue their investigation, but he did address warning signs.
“First of all, we have to recognize that people, when they do it, want the world to know a little bit about why they did it, so they do something called leakage,” Scalora said.
That’s when they drop subtle or not-so-subtle hints about their plans.
SEE ALSO: Charlie Kirk’s killing sparks discussion among UNL political science students
It can occur in direct conversation, or text messages and often on social media, which is a common place for younger people to express how they feel.
“We are our own echo chamber where people can rant about something that the rest of us might not even think is a big deal,” Scalora said.
He said once like-minded people connect online, it can reinforce their ideologies.
“You don’t have other people saying, ‘Hey, settle down here, take it easy, get a life’ or something else.”
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Scalora said one way to prevent such violence is when you notice something, say something right away.
It can make all the difference.
“We all suffer when that violence happens,” Scalora said.
SEE ALSO: Suspect in Charlie Kirk killing had become ‘more political’ and likely acted alone, authorities say
