NEWTOWN, Conn. – Over the last week, several U.S. cities experienced shootings committed by teenagers that underscore the urgent need for comprehensive violence-prevention solutions that address the many pathways that can lead young people toward violence. Across these events, a dangerous combination of factors – including easy access to firearms, online radicalization, impulsive adolescent behavior, and missed warning signs – resulted in devastating tragedies. While each incident is different, they all share a clear and alarming pattern: every one of these events was preventable. Taking warning signs seriously, intervening early, and ensuring firearms are securely stored can save lives.
In California, two teens aged 17 and 18 committed a shooting on Monday at The Islamic Center of San Diego, killing three adult men. Fortunately, no children at the school that is housed in the Islamic Center were harmed. Authorities are investigating the attack as a hate crime, and said the two shooters met online and became “radicalized,” leaving behind writings that expressed broad hatred towards multiple groups. The firearms used in this attack were stolen from a relative of one of the suspects, who called police to report their son expressed suicidal behavior and had run away. The two teenage suspects later died by suicide following the attack.
This weekend in Austin, Texas, two teens aged 15 and 17 were arrested following a spree of at least 10 random shootings and multiple vehicle thefts. Four people were injured in these attacks, one critically. The firearm used in the shootings had been stolen by the 15-year-old. The 17-year-old suspect was also wanted for a separate firearm theft. A motive has not yet been identified.
Other attacks involving teens occurred in Baltimore, Maryland, where at least five separate shootings occurred in less than 48 hours, and Detroit, Michigan, where a 14-year-old was shot and injured during a “teen takeover” event.
In response to these incidents, Nicole Hockley, co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement:
“This recent string of youth-involved shootings, all occurring within just a few days, has devastated families and shaken communities across our country. We stand with the victims, their loved ones, and the communities of San Diego, Austin, Baltimore, Detroit, and others in calling for urgent collective action for a safer future.
“These tragedies were preventable. We must do more to keep guns out of the hands of youth, strengthen support for youth mental health, interrupt harmful content from reaching youth online, and help families recognize and respond to warning signs before violence occurs.
“These shootings highlight three critical areas we must address together: secure firearm storage, temporary firearm transfers during crises, and the growing threat of online radicalization among vulnerable teens.
“In the San Diego case, there were clear warning signs – suicidal behavior, hateful rhetoric, and unfettered access to guns in the home. Critical time and distance between a high-risk teen and a weapon can mean the difference between life and death. Policy solutions like secure storage and temporary transfer orders can keep guns out of the hands of unauthorized users and individuals experiencing a crisis. At the same time, we need earlier intervention for youth consuming violent extremist content online, including better support for families reporting alarming behavior before it can escalate further into violence. Early intervention matters.
“The ultimate common thread across several of these shootings was the use of stolen firearms, exposing how easily unsecured weapons fall into the hands of youth. In most youth shootings, suicides, and school shootings, the weapons used come from the home of a family member – often a parent. Up to 7 million youth live in a home with at least one unlocked and loaded gun. That’s why we must continue to build a culture that prioritizes responsible firearm storage and safe access practices to keep young people and communities safe.”
For more information about gun violence prevention, resources for how communities can heal after a tragedy, facts about anti-religious violence and hate crimes, as well as information about life-saving firearm access policies, please visit sandyhookpromise.org.
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Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed “Know the Signs” prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
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