Case Vignettes Illustrating Intervention Needs
Unfortunately, some well known cases of targeted violence from the recent past are examples of missed opportunities for prevention. What these cases have in common is that they very often present natural opportunities for early intervention and prevention. It is important for mental health specialists and other practitioners to be aware and potentially act on these opportunities.
Missed Opportunity on Campus
Abdul Razak Ali Artan was a 20-year-old Somali-American and first semester student at Ohio State University. An article from the student newspaper featured him on his very first day on campus: “I’m new here. This is my first day. This place is huge, and I don’t even know where to pray.” He was concerned about being unfairly stigmatized: “I’m a Muslim, it’s not what the media portrays me to be.” Several weeks later he posted on Facebook: “I am sick and tired of seeing [Muslims] killed & tortured EVERYWHERE. I can’t take it anymore. America!…We are not weak, remember that…If you want us Muslims to stop carrying lone wolf attacks, then make peace.” He drove his car into a crowd of students on campus and attacked them with a knife before a campus security officer shot him dead.
For more information, watch, “OSU suspect reportedly posted Facebook rant before attack” on CBSnews.com.
Missed Opportunity with Law Enforcement
Robert E. Crimo III, a 21-year old male, had a history of threatening behavior in which the police were involved. In 2019, police were called to Crimo’s home to respond to violent threats he’d made to others, and dozens of knives and sharp objects were confiscated. However, they did not seek criminal charges. Officers were also called to his home earlier in 2019 due to a reported suicide attempt.
After two police visits to his home, Crimo acquired five firearms between June 2020 and September 2021. He passed four background checks, including checks of the federal National Instant Criminal Background Check System. At the time, his only criminal offense was a January 2016 ordinance violation for possession of tobacco, and no mental health prohibiter reports were submitted to state police by health care facilities or personnel. On July 4th, 2022, during an Independence Day Parade in Highland Park, IL, he used a powerful rifle to fire dozens of times into a crowd, killing seven and injuring dozens.
Refugee Youth Intervention
A 17-year-old refugee youth was being raised by a single mother after a family loss. He joined a sports club that organized viewings of ISIS beheading videos and talks on ideology, and this led to his embracing extremist views. When his mother found out, she alerted the school counselor. The counselor told the principal who then called law enforcement. Instead of charging him with a crime, law enforcement helped organize case management, family therapy, school transfer, an after school job, and mentoring.
White Supremacist Intervention
Jane, a teenage girl, had neurodevelopmental conditions and was enrolled in an on-line high school. Spending most days online, she was spotted by a recruiter of a Neo-Nazi group and was brought into their Neo-Nazi movement. They encouraged Jane to make and post videos denying the Holocaust and to push for violent action in a local mall. When her parents became aware, they became horrified. They reached out to a former white supremacist, engaged a mental health specialist, and contacted local law enforcement. They all worked with Jane’s parents and Jane herself to help her step away from her involvement with the neo-Nazis and get her proper treatment and support.