Here’s a positive story for a change of the system working as it should:
- Student with a history of psychiatric challenges tells his friend from a treatment program he’s going to shoot up his High School and Elementary school (reportedly because it’s easier).
- That friend reported his concerning behavior (to an authority figure I presume who reported or directly) to the FBI who notified the local police.
- Warrants were obtained that found a manifesto revealing his intentions.
- Reportedly he shared similar thoughts in 2022-2023 with a school counselor, was removed from the school, and sent to inpatient treatment for 5 months. He had been not attending in-person classes since.
I don’t know if he had access to a gun but as we’ve seen, if there is a will, there is a way for these sick individuals. I’d be curious to know often these plans are foiled, not something every community would want to highlight, but it’s important for people to see how they can do their part to stop a tragedy… actually 2x a tragedy was stopped- once by the counselor which facilitated getting him into inpatient treatment, once by his friend reporting his disturbing plans.
Also of interest, this kid is not your stereotypical white student. He appears to be Asian. It goes to show any ethic group is capable of these terrible actions, which shouldn’t be surprising.
I also commend his family for trying their best to get him the help he needs. Esp if his parents are Asian immigrants or even 1st generation, there’s culturally typically tremendous distrust of psychiatric care (let alone western medicine in many cases) and psychiatric illness is viewed as a personal weakness among Asian immigrants. Asians-Americans typically score as holding the most stigma. But it’s really not uncommon for people from developing countries to see mental illness this way. Likely explains to some extent why there’s so few Asian psychiatrists versus other specialties. A big problem in my opinion.
