April 20, 2019 marked the 20th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting. In this PBS News article, one survivor reflects on one of the killer’s red flags, including his obsession with war violence. The article also cites important research gathered through the National Police Foundation’s Averted School Violence initiative, which demonstrates the importance for recognizing early-warning signs and early intervention before violence occurs. 

According to a recent analysis of 51 averted school shootings (data collected through the ASV database), “peers were most likely to discover and report plans of an attack and were crucial to shutting them down.”

A second study conducted by the National Police Foundation found that, “A majority of attackers also had a history of being treated for one or more mental health issues, including depression.”