Journal of Threat Assessment and Management, Vol 11(2), Jun 2024, 83-105; doi:10.1037/tam0000203
The 2019 Virginia Beach mass shooting represents an extreme but important incident in the broader context of workplace violence. It is both one of the deadliest cases of workplace violence in U.S. history and also one of the most confusing. Investigators who studied the perpetrator concluded that they “did not uncover any indications of violent tendencies” and “we may never know why he committed this heinous act.” However, by using the Workplace Assessment of Violence Risk–21, Version 3, in a retrospective study of evidence from official reports and previously unreleased documents and photographs, we hope to generate new insights. Overall, our findings suggest that at least 12 risk factors for violence were prominent or present in the Virginia Beach mass shooter’s life, and that he clearly posed a significant threat of violence before his attack. We provide the details so that practitioners and researchers can better understand this individual’s trajectory toward mass violence, which could inform and enhance their future work. We also offer several recommendations for improving behavioral threat assessment and management strategies and violence prevention in workplace settings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)