Why kids kill — experts say there are 13 reasons
QUAPAW, Okla. — The message today to over 500 first responders — “educate yourself.”
That was the final message to first responders who showed up for a week of training at the annual Guardians Conference at Downstream Casino Resort.
Criminal profiler Phil Chalmers explained that finding out what causes violence and knowing the warning signs could prevent mass killings and even suicides. And with social media — he says most kids will post a picture or send out warnings.
Chalmers explained that there are 13 reasons kids kill. He says “juvenile homicide is a multiple-cause crime” and he believes it takes three to six of the causes to create a potential teen killer or school shooter.
The 13 reasons listed on Chalmers’ website include:
1. Fatherless homes;
2. Unstable homes with physical, sexual, or mental abuse;
3. Being the victim of bullying;
4. Obsession with violent entertainment – including video games, and torture porn;
5. Obsession with deadly weapons – including guns, knives, and bombs;
6. Suicidal ideologies;
7. Use of illegal drugs, alcohol, and other prescription medication;
8. A desire to be famous;
9. Involvement in cults, gangs, or hate groups;
10. Peer pressure from bad friends;
11. Poverty;
12. Lack of spiritual guidance and discipline;
13. Mental illness
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You just have to know what to look for.
“And I think these kids that commit these crimes can be reached. They can be helped. They can be, we can stop those crimes. For the 22,000 people that killed themselves with guns this year, they could be helped. We could reduce the suicide rate,” said Phil Chalmers, Criminal Profiler.
“Everybody should be concerned. It’s not the 80s anymore. Like he was talking about, it’s not like when we were growing up, you leave your door unlocked or whatever. [That’s] not the country anymore,” said David Dean, Ottawa County Sheriff.
Chalmers said his hope for these first responders is that they take that message back to their towns, cities, schools and even churches. He says we all need to educate ourselves.
The training material from today’s presentation can also be found on Chalmers’ website. He says he wants people to have access to this educational material, to spread the word, and to help people understand violence
