Prosecutors in the Parkland school shooting case are seeking the death penalty for Nikolas Cruz, who killed 17 people in 2018. Experts argue that mass shooters often display similar traits and behaviours that could help prevent future attacks if identified early.
Research by the Violence Project, which analysed over 180 attacks since the 1960s, found a common trajectory: childhood trauma, legal issues, a desire to end their own life, and then a desire to harm others. Co-founder James Densley described mass shootings as organised 'deaths of despair', linked to rising suicide and overdose rates.
In the Parkland case, Cruz listened repeatedly to 'Pumped Up Kicks' by Foster the People, a song about a bullied teen who shoots up his school. The band's lead singer, Mark Foster, said he wrote the song to understand the link between teenage mental illness and gun violence.
Densley noted that gunmen are almost exclusively male, likely because men tend to externalise feelings and blame others. He also highlighted how online forums can amplify feelings of despair and isolation, as seen in the 2019 Christchurch mosque attack, which was live-streamed online.
The trial has raised questions about missed warning signs. Cruz's attorneys argue he was a young man in crisis after his mother's death, lacking support. Whatever the outcome, experts stress the importance of recognising these patterns to prevent future tragedies.
