From the Training:
Teachers are the Prize

Ninety-four percent of school shooters who are current students give off a public indicator of danger at school that they’re planning and preparing to attack.

They say something, make a gesture, or wear something that serves as a warning of impending violence. And they do it right in front of everyone—teachers, students, and staff members.

Ninety-four percent.

You can almost say that nearly every school shooter who is a current student gives us a chance to stop them—if we’re looking, and if we know what we’re looking for.

There are two ways to respond to that.

The first is fear.

To hear a statistic like that can feel overwhelming. But the worst thing about fear isn’t that it makes you afraid—it’s that it creates inaction. And inaction is the enemy of safety.

The second way is to see it as an opportunity.

A real, significant chance to change an outcome before it happens.

As uncomfortable as it is, we have to train ourselves to notice, to question, and to act—especially when we’re afraid. 

The anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre is approaching. And Columbine is not just another school shooting. It continues to influence those who are thinking about doing harm in ways that are different—and dangerous.

The two attackers at Columbine wore very specific clothing.
Black fatigue pants. Black boots. Black dusters.
One wore a white t-shirt that read Natural Selection in black letters.
The other wore a black t-shirt that read Wrath with red letters.

Those shirts are still out there.
Sadly, they are easy to find and easy to buy.
I have personally been involved in a threat assessment where a student was wearing one of these shirts.

If you see a student wearing one of these shirts, that is an automatic red flag. 

Just like the golden arches instantly make you think of McDonald’s, those shirts are tied to one of the most well-known acts of school violence in history. They are not random. They carry specific meaning, and they should be treated that way. 

So what do we do? 

If you see it—report it immediately.
If you’re a school leader—initiate a threat assessment immediately.

A red flag is not a conclusion but a starting point. 

Find out why they’re wearing it.
What it means to them.
And what else may be going on beneath the surface. 

Wearing a shirt like this is not concrete proof that a student is planning an attack, but it is a serious and troubling behavior. And it could absolutely be the kind of indicator that falls inside that ninety-four percent. 

As with all threats...stay skeptical but open.
Investigate but don’t assume.
Act fast but act correctly. 

Share this blog post with your staff.
Make sure they can recognize indicators of danger and know exactly what to do when they see them.