Thread by @keikoinboston

1. This write up of the Texas House committee interim report is both heartbreaking & infuriating.

People often think that preventing violence is someone else's job. I hope more people will learn that it's EVERYONE'S job.

https://twitter.com/Perla_Trevizo/status/1548760904862380034

2. The full report for the Investigative Committee on the Robb Elementary Shooting titled “Interim Report 2022” is 81 pages long. I haven’t had time to read it so this thread is working only from the article. #UvaldeShooting

static.texastribune.org/media/files/d0…

3. There are no surprises here.

The Uvalde shooter had a years-long history of missed opportunities for intervention including:
- an alleged history of being sexually abused by an adult male
- a mother with a substance abuse problem
- seeming neurodevelopmental issues

4. He was bullied.

People who knew him reported that he was "depressed and lonely".

He harassed & threatened people but was especially bad with women and girls in recent years.

5.

“Privately, he wrote about his challenges connecting with others or feeling empathy for them, saying he was “not human.” His search history, the authors of the report wrote, suggest he was wondering whether he was a sociopath. ...

6.

… His search history, the authors of the report wrote, suggest he was wondering whether he was a sociopath. His internet searches led to him receiving an email about obtaining psychological treatment for the condition.”

7. He wasn’t always like this.

“When he started school, his pre-K teacher described him as a “wonderful student,” always ready to learn and with a positive attitude.”

8.

“But despite all the threats and violent talk, none of his online behavior was reported to law enforcement. It’s unclear whether other users reported his behavior to any social media platform, but the committee concluded ...

9.

…it doesn’t appear there were any actions taken to restrict his access or to report him to authorities as a threat.”

10. I know this is controversial but parents and other adults really need to talk to children, teens, and young adults about the importance of reporting concerning behavior.

https://twitter.com/keikoinboston/status/1529589670832746496

11. Not everyone who engages in concerning behavior is going to become a mass shooter but sometimes an intervention at the right time can save lives including the life of the would-be shooter who may be able to grow up and live a full life.

https://twitter.com/keikoinboston/status/1470968393218117638

12. The hardest thing about reporting someone who’s behaving in a concerning way is wondering what if you're mistaken that this is a "real" threat. This is the wrong framing.

https://twitter.com/keikoinboston/status/1529598412039106561

13. There is a world in which the Uvalde shooting didn’t have to happen if people had spoken up.

The shooter was clearly on the pathway to violence, although that's not always something people can see if they have only 1 piece of the puzzle.

https://twitter.com/keikoinboston/status/1470965051758678022

14. Sometimes people think they can handle concerning behavior/speech themselves because they don't have enough knowledge/experience to know when professional help is needed.

15.

"He confided in an older cousin who was also staying with their grandmother that he didn’t want to live anymore. But the cousin told authorities she thought she’d gotten through to him after a lengthy “heart-to-heart.”

16. I’m sure cousin tried their best but when someone says they don’t want to live, one deep conversation is not going to fix it. They might feel temporarily better but the things going on in the brain that make people suicidal require much more work.

17. There are some people who are able to pull themselves out of a suicidal hole without professional intervention but they have to have strong internal motivation and have or develop a healthy support network.

https://twitter.com/keikoinboston/status/1339440851068567559

18. Others may require medication and years of other forms of mental health treatment.

19. So many school/mass shootings and other forms of violence would be preventable if people took the perpetrators seriously when they’re harassing or threatening, telling people how much pain they’re in, and…

https://twitter.com/keikoinboston/status/1525654757024616449

20. … in many cases leaking their intent.

https://twitter.com/keikoinboston/status/1399107670397833219

21. Even if you don’t care about the person behaving in a concerning manner, if you care about the people in your community, please speak up before it’s too late.