The influence of acute life stressors on mass shooter outcomes

Alex O. Widdowson, Katelyn M. McMahon and Holly M. Kratzwald

Journal of Criminal Justice, 2025, vol. 96, issue C

Abstract: Existing studies indicate that acute life stressors often precede mass shootings and may contribute to the shooter's motivation or exacerbate underlying mental health issues. However, it remains unclear whether these stressors influence mass shooter outcomes—that is, whether the shooter is apprehended, dies by suicide, or is killed by law enforcement or citizens. This study advances the literature by examining the associations between five acute life stressors and mass shooter outcomes and whether these associations vary across different incident types.

Keywords: Mass shooters; Mass murder; Suicide (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jcjust:v:96:y:2025:i:c:s0047235224001715

DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102322

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