The Role of Community Members

Individual community members play an important role in preventing targeted violence.  Communities have internal resources that include individuals, families, peers, community organizations, schools, churches, and businesses that can bring about collective action for the common good (Reimer, Lyons, Ferguson, & Polanco, 2008) and assist in building and maintaining community well-being. This includes community residents and those who interact with  community members in their professional lives. Examples include school personnel, social service personnel, religious leaders, and coaches.   

Although formal governmental agencies may play a role, community members and other local resources are the primary source of  assistance within communities (Aldrich & Meyer, 2015). In fact, many situations do not rise to the level of police or other governmental agency involvement.  This is why it’s critical to have caring people in the community who can help individuals in accessing appropriate resources and services. 

Collective Efficacy

Collective efficacy is a social science term used to refer to the “social cohesion among neighbors and their willingness to intervene on behalf of the common good” (Sampson, Raudenbush, & Earls, 1997, p. 918). This theory suggests that violence prevention is accomplished when whole communities align around common values and community members can be relied on to intervene when they notice signs of distress, disorder, or concern. This theory suggests that it is the responsibility of all community members to create caring and healthy communities, and one way to do so is by connecting people to resources when they show signs of distress or other behaviors that may be cause for concern. Safe and respectful communities also discourage victim blaming and encourage all community members to be active and engaged bystanders.  

Community members also play an important role because they often are the first to hear, see, or learn about behaviors that are concerning. In fact, research indicates that this has occurred in a significant number of cases in which mass violence was ultimately carried out. 

Successful Interventions 

It is not uncommon for us to learn about completed mass shootings at local schools, Universities, workplaces, or other community locations. These incidents may make us fear going to work, sending our children to school, or going about other activities. It may make us feel powerless. What we have learned, however, is that community members play an important role in preventing these incidents. The following examples show the impact community members can have when they notice something concerning and take action. 

Intervention Example 1: Daytona Beach, Florida 

In December 2021, witnesses successfully prevented an Embry-Riddle student from carrying out a mass shooting at the University. The student had bragged about purchasing firearms to an acquaintance and had posted comments that suggested how he planned to bring firearms to school during exams and ‘shoot it up.’ Police officials were able to intervene successfully following the witness notifying police of this and other information (Daytona Beach News-Journal).  

Intervention Example 2: San Diego, California 

In December 2019, federal law enforcement agencies were tipped off that a 30-year-old San Diego man was planning to commit a mass shooting. The individual had posted several videos pointing and dry firing unloaded weapons at pedestrians who walked unknowingly past his window. Law enforcement officials found multiple guns and high-capacity magazines from his home after successfully intervening (NYPost.com). 

Here are three additional cases in which intervention was possible thanks to others who noticed something concerning and acted. 

• A 22-year-old Connecticut man made statements on Facebook about his desire to carry out a mass shooting. 
• A 25-year-old Florida resident told his ex-girlfriend he wanted to “break a world record” for the longest mass shooting incident.  
• A 20-year-old Ohio man posted threats on social media directed at a local Jewish community center.  

In all three cases, the individuals owned or had access to weapons and made explicit threats to specific targets, but were unable to follow through on the threats because authorities were notified (CNN). 

Although it is unknown whether intervention will always be successful, experts agree that in a large percentage of cases, individuals who intend to commit acts of mass violence often share their grievances and plans with others or displayed concerning behaviors in the months or days prior to the attack. One study found that active shooters, for instance, had displayed on average 4 to 5 concerning behaviors prior to their attack (Silver, Simmons & Craun, 2018). Instances in which someone displays concerning behaviors are important to recognize and acknowledge because they represent early intervention points.