By Robert Jordan, Founder SITE|SAFETYNET℠
In May 2024, a disturbing number of school shootings occurred across the United States. Our information is sourced from David Riedman, who has diligently tracked these incidents. The following is a detailed account of these tragic events and their implications, supplemented by insights from SITE|SAFETYNET℠.
A Troubling Start to the Month
On May 1, police responded to an active shooter situation at Mount Horeb Middle School in rural Wisconsin. Officers encountered a teenager outside the school carrying a long black rifle. When the teen failed to comply with commands, officers shot and killed him. Four days later, it was revealed that the rifle was a $100 pellet gun available at Walmart and Amazon.
DOJ: New Details on the Incident
The teen’s online posts indicated an obsession with the Columbine shooting, detailing a visit to the site and expressing a desire to acquire an AR-15 rifle. He posted “my last morning” just before taking the pellet gun to school. Although this teen intended to carry out a school shooting, he fortunately lacked access to a lethal weapon.
Launch of the Back to School Shooting Podcast
In May, David Riedman released the first episode of the Back to School Shooting podcast. The podcast features 30-minute uncut interviews with experts in education, policing, criminology, public health, mental health, terrorism, and technology. New episodes will be released bi-weekly and are available on various podcast platforms.
Key Topics Covered in May
- Ohio’s Mobile Shoot Houses for Teacher Training: Ohio invests in mobile shoot houses to train armed teachers.
- Gun Violence at High School Graduations: Exploring the rise in gun violence during graduation ceremonies.
- Combined Shooting and Bombing Threats: Discussing the complexities of handling simultaneous threats.
- Eight Archetypes of School Shooters: Data science reveals patterns among school shooters.
- The Mount Horeb Middle School Shooting: Detailed analysis of the incident and its implications.
- Missed Warning Signs: Reviewing the overlooked indicators that could have prevented the Wisconsin shooting.
- Noise Audit for Threat Assessments: Continuing the evaluation of noise levels in school shooting threat assessments.
Noteworthy Incidents
Washington, DC Shooting
On May 3, a female student in Washington, DC, was struck by a bullet while inside her classroom. The shot came from outside, where teens were fighting. Video footage revealed a dozen bullet holes in the school’s windows, indicating the shooter likely used a Glock handgun equipped with an automatic firing switch.
Analysis of May 2024 Incidents
The incidents in May 2024 continue the troubling trend of school shootings over the past three years. While the number of shootings has not exponentially increased from 2023 to 2024, the number of victims in May 2024 is higher than in 2023 but significantly lower than in 2022.
Patterns and Locations
- Parking Lots: Consistently the most common location for school shootings.
- Time of Day: Most shootings in May 2024 occurred at night and during school events, especially high school graduations and end-of-year ceremonies. Two nighttime shootings took place during unauthorized post-graduation parties, highlighting the need for proactive policing.
Random Incidents
On May 23, an unidentified individual used a pellet rifle to break windows at Whittier Elementary School in Butte, MT. While no one was injured, the act of property damage was unsettling for students, staff, and parents. Historical context shows that such incidents can precede more severe violence, as seen in the 1979 Cleveland Elementary School shooting.
Late Night Party Shooting
On May 31, a man was shot during a late-night party on the campus of Arthur Hill High School in Saginaw, MI, following graduation. This incident underscores the need for increased security measures during school-related events.
Insights from SITE|SAFETYNET℠
At SITE|SAFETYNET℠, we recognize the urgent and critical need for real-time and continuous safety monitoring throughout the school year. Our unique and proprietary cloud-based platform empowers schools with active safety assessments and reassessments, ensuring they maintain the highest level of security. Here are the key features that set our platform apart:
- Proprietary 60-Point Safety Zone Assessment (P-60): Our groundbreaking approach divides and evaluates school safety into 60 distinct safety zones. This ensures tailored and comprehensive safety measures for every area, leaving no aspect of school safety unaddressed.
- Dynamic Safety Score (DSS): DSS is a unique, cutting-edge performance scoring system that provides real-time insights into the status of each safety zone. This advanced system evaluates safety conditions, allowing for immediate updates and targeted improvements. By delivering critical data in real-time, the DSS empowers schools to identify and address potential threats proactively.
- Automated Safety Reports (ASR): Our platform automatically generates safety reports based on real-time data, delivering actionable insights to school administrators and stakeholders. This enables swift and continuously informed decision-making to enhance school safety throughout the year.
- Real-Time Assessments and Reassessments (RTAR): Our advanced safety management system relies on the P-60, DSS, and ASR methodologies, making real-time and continuous safety assessments and reassessments its cornerstone. Our platform ensures ongoing safety improvements by leveraging these cutting-edge technologies, data analytics, and machine learning capabilities.
- Scalable Solutions: Our cloud-based foundational model is designed to meet the needs of any institution, from small rural schools to large urban districts. This active and continuous safety system ensures that every school, regardless of size or safety budget and wherever they are in their safety journey, can benefit from our comprehensive real-time safety solutions. Utilized by schools nationwide, our platform provides critical, instant, and continuous data that other security organizations do not offer.
At SITE|SAFETYNET℠, our commitment to school safety is unmatched. Our platform’s unique features and proprietary methodologies provide schools with the tools to protect students and staff, ensuring a year-round safe learning environment. Parents highly recommend our real-time, continuous safety measures, maintained throughout the year, providing unparalleled security for students and staff.
For more information on how SITE|SAFETYNET℠ can benefit your school, visit sitesafetynet.org.
Conclusion
The month of May 2024 saw a significant number of school shootings, each contributing to the ongoing concern for school safety. By understanding the patterns and taking proactive measures, we can work towards preventing future incidents. As always, if it’s predictable, it’s preventable.
For more detailed information and ongoing updates, visit our blog at k12ssdb.substack.com.
With the innovative solutions offered by SITE|SAFETYNET℠, schools nationwide can enhance their security measures and create safer environments for students and staff. Learn more about how our platform can benefit your school by visiting our overview page HERE! [1 min read]
