Journal of Threat Assessment and Management, Vol 11(1), Mar 2024, 32-47; doi:10.1037/tam0000211
In this case analysis, we applied the Path to Intended Violence model (PTIV) and the Terrorist Radicalization Assessment Protocol (TRAP-18) in order to study the 28-year-old shooter (hereinafter referred to as Brenton Tarrant [BT]) who perpetrated two consecutive mass shootings at mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, during Friday Prayer on March 15, 2019. Based on our analysis of the case using the PTIV model, it is clear that BT had significant grievances (Stage 1), which led him to the second stage of the model, violent ideation. In this second stage, BT joined online forums of like-minded individuals and saw violence as being his only option to address his grievances. He also read about previous mass shooters and was inspired by them. Regarding the threat assessment using the TRAP-18, in the week before his attack, BT exhibited five of the eight proximal warning behaviors including pathway, fixation, identification, energy burst, and last resort. In the same week, he exhibited seven distal characteristics. Based on their effectiveness as exemplified in this case, we recommend the application of the TRAP-18 and the PTIV model to individuals of concern. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)