Eric H: We need a kick start - We need to get a chain reaction going here

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Dozens of people have been arrested over threats to commit mass attacks since the El Paso and Dayton shootings

Some are teenagers accused of threatening to gun down classmates. Others allegedly issued social media warnings of attacks on store customers or coworkers. Still others are said to have vowed to unleash small arsenals against victims based on their race or religion.

More than two dozen people have been arrested over threats to commit mass shootings in the weeks since 31 people were killed in one August weekend in shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio,

The raft of cases follows a directive by the FBI director immediately after those two massacres for agency offices nationwide to conduct a new threat assessment in an effort to thwart more mass attacks.

The FBI was concerned that US-based domestic violent extremists could become inspired by the attacks to "engage in similar acts of violence," the agency said in a statement.

The FBI director ordered the agency's field offices to scour the country for mass shooting threats

The FBI director ordered the agency's field offices to scour the country for mass shooting threats

At least one person now facing charges told deputies he simply wasn't being serious, they said. Joke or not, though, such comments in many places are a felony.

"After the mass violence we've seen in Florida and across the country, law enforcement officers have a responsibility to investigate and charge those who choose to make these types of threatening statements," the sheriff's office involved in that case wrote on its Facebook page.


Here are the known threats with publicized arrests that law enforcement agencies have investigated since the Dayton and El Paso shootings:

August 4: A man from the Tampa area called a Walmart and told an employee he would shoot up the store, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. The man faces a false threat charge.

August 7: Police in Weslaco, Texas, arrested a 13-year-old boy. The boy will face a charge of terroristic threat for making a social media post that prompted a Walmart to be evacuated, police said on Facebook. The boy's mother brought him to the station.

August 8: A man is accused of walking into a Walmart in Missouri equipped with body armor, a handgun and a rifle less than a week after a gunman killed 22 people in a Texas Walmart says it was a "social experiment" and not intended to cause panic. The 20-year-old was charged with making a terrorist threat.

August 9: A 23-year-old Las Vegas man is charged with possessing destructive devices after authorities found bomb-making materials at his home. The FBI says he was planning to attack a synagogue and a gay bar.

August 9: A 26-year-old Winter Park, Florida, man was arrested after investigators say he posted a threat on Facebook that he was about to have his gun returned and people should stay away from Walmart.

August 10: Officers responded to a threat a man posted on social media, the Harlingen, Texas, Police Department said in a statement. A man was arrested at his home on charges of making a terroristic threat.

August 11: A Palm Beach County, Florida, mother is accused of threatening to carry out a shooting at an elementary school because her children were being moved there, according to CNN affiliate WFTS. The 28-year-old woman is charged with sending a written threat to commit bodily injury.

August 11: A Mississippi teen is accused of making threats in the Lamar County School District, the agency says on Facebook.

August 12: Authorities charged an 18-year-old Ohio man who the FBI says threatened to assault federal law enforcement officers and showed support for mass shootings in a post online. Court documents say that the teen had a stockpile of weapons and ammunition.

August 12: A 25-year-old Jefferson County, West Virginia, man was arrested on charges of making terroristic threats online to kill people, according to CNN affiliate WDVM.

August 13: Albert Lea Police arrested and charged a 15-year-old Minnesota girl for threatening a school shooting on social media.

August 13: A man was arrested in Phoenix after police say he threatened to blow up an Army recruitment center, according to CNN affiliate KTVK.

August 15: A tip from a citizen led Connecticut authorities and the FBI to
investigate and arrest a man who they said expressed an interest in committing a mass shooting on Facebook and had weapons and tactical gear, the FBI and Norwalk Police Department said.

August 15: A 15-year-old girl was arrested in Fresno, California, for posting a photo of a Walmart gun case with rifles displayed and the caption, "Don't come to school tomorrow," the city's police chief said. "The teen's very bright future is now stained by this," he said, adding she was booked with making terrorist threats.

August 16: A 15-year-old boy was taken into police custody in Volusia County, Florida, after investigators say he threatened to commit a school shooting in comments on a video game chat platform.

August 16: Two Mississippi juveniles were arrested in connection with threatening messages to two Tupelo schools, placing a school in partial lockdown, according to CNN affiliate WTVA.

August 16: A Florida man was arrested and charged with threatening to commit a mass shooting after his ex-girlfriend alerted authorities to a series of ominous text messages he sent her.

August 16: A 14-year-old in Arizona was arrested by Tempe Police after online threats were made against a school, according to CNN affiliate KNXV.

August 16: A Chicago man, 19, was arrested after police say he threatened to kill people at a women's reproductive health clinic on iFunny, a social media platform where users can post memes, federal prosecutors said Monday.

August 16: A 35-year-old Clarksburg, Maryland, resident was arrested in Seattle after being charged with threatening to kill people and calling for the "extermination" of Hispanics, according to a statement released by the US attorney for the Southern District of Florida.

August 17: New Middletown Police arrested a self-described white nationalist who they say threatened to shoot an Ohio Jewish community center.

August 18: A man was arrested in Reed City, Michigan, after authorities said he posted online videos making threats toward Ferris State University and other locations, according to CNN affiliate WXMI.

August 18: Claremore, Oklahoma, police arrested an 18-year-old who they say made social media threats against police officer families, according to a Facebook post from the Claremore Police Department.

August 19: A 38-year-old truck driver was arrested after making "credible threats to conduct a mass shooting and suicide" planned for Thursday, an FBI special agent said in a sworn affidavit filed in the Southern District of Alabama.

August 19: Maui Police arrested an 18-year-old man after a social media post claimed he intended to "shoot up a school," according to CNN affiliate KITV.

August 19: A 37-year-old Rapid City, South Dakota, man was arrested and charged with threatening to blow up state and federal government agencies, Pennington County Sheriff's Office said in a post on Facebook.

August 21: A hotel cook was arrested for allegedly planning a mass shooting of his coworkers and guests at a Marriott property in Long Beach, California, the city's police chief said.


**It definitely looks like Eric predicted the future on this one

sororityalpha wrote:

**It definitely looks like Eric predicted the future on this one

Welcome to the age of the rampage.

sororityalpha wrote:

August 16: A Chicago man, 19, was arrested after police say he threatened to kill people at a women's reproductive health clinic on iFunny, a social media platform where users can post memes, federal prosecutors said Monday.

IFunny of all places...Really?

I think there is gonna be another mass shooting in the USA very soon.

It's different today. There isnt any substance behind what many shooters and people do. I'm not saying Eric and Dylan were the brightest but I understand how they would resort to violence given what transpired throughout their years in high school.

I often think 4 20 the date, many think it was just a coincidence but was it really though? I dont know. I dont think so.

Sane One wrote:

I often think 4 20 the date, many think it was just a coincidence but was it really though? I dont know. I dont think so.

Is was originally planned for April 19 — the anniversary of the Waco Siege and the Oklahoma City Bombing, but Eric required more ammunition from Mark Manes, who did not deliver it until the evening of April 19.

sororityalpha wrote:

**It definitely looks like Eric predicted the future on this one

Self fulfilled prophecy?  However I think there is much to attribute to today's culture of school gun violence in addition to Eric's 'bold prediction'.  

Parenting (or lack of), social media, mental health, everyone needing a label, over/under/mis-medicating.  I would mention bullying but it would seem for the most part in the case of columbine, it was a veiled cover as the two assailants weren't really bullied like media portrayal.  Bullying has been around for eons, guns have been around nearly as long when it comes to the public school system.  That's not to say it hasn't attributed in today's environment but I don't believe it's as big of a factor.  

Yes E&D have created inspiration in some instances (Cho being the biggest example) but not every mass school shooting was inspired by them.  

So in short I don't necessarily believe that Eric's predictions were a result of what they were going to do at the time or if there are several factors as I suggested above.

*not to mention the vast amounts of mass shootings in the recent decade and a half that have nothing to do with schools.

Good points [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] I agree, however, mass shootings have certainly increased since Columbine.

sororityalpha wrote:

Good points [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] I agree, however, mass shootings have certainly increased since Columbine.

Definitely. However I disagree it was solely due to a Columbine. I think there is a lot going on to contribute. Hard to really say that Columbine is the catalyst for every school mass shooting.

Of course it is not but as I said, mass shootings have certainly increased since Columbine.

Don't forget that a lot of planned shootings have also been inspired by Columbine.

I think if you’re that type of person the Columbine story is far too seductive to resist. I know most shooters have their nutty fans, but nothing like E/D. If it had been Adam Lanza in his Gilligan hat doing the shooting at Columbine I don’t believe it would have the power to inspire like it does.

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Don't forget that a lot of planned shootings have also been inspired by Columbine.

What are a 'lot'?  And define 'inspired by'.  

There is no clear definition of mass shooting and the FBI has a broad label of it, itself.  By that token there has been a countless number of mass shootings of which based on that FBI's broad defining again, of which I don't think majority or even a lot were inspired by E & D, columbine or whatever.

Ultimately the conditions revolving around mass public shootings/murder has (d)evolved over the years since columbine.   In fact there was a huge period of 'quiteness' post columbine.  2005 there was a school mass shooting Red Lake Senior High, then you have the Virginia Tech, infamously known Cho who killed 32 and cited Columbine and there have been several after 07'.  There has been several since that even, Sandy hook, Parkland, etc.  

Then I have to wonder what 'inspired by Columbine' really means?  Using E & D's motives?  bullying?  Hate of humanity?  Kick starting Revolutions?  Jocks? Violent video games? Hell I don't even think they had a real clear motive, all over the place like a puppy chasing its tail.  With that said, most mass shootings revolve around at least one of those criteria, particularly in the school setting.  

Bottom line is they don't get credit for majority of the mass shootings, at school or otherwise, as they were truly no different from any other mass shooter(s) before or after them.  

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The United States’ Congressional Research Service acknowledges that there is not a broadly accepted definition and defines a “public mass shooting”[1] as an event where someone selects four or more people and kills them in an indiscriminate manner, echoing the FBI’s definition of the term "mass murder." But adding the indiscriminate factor.

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More than 100 copycat shooters inspired by Columbine since 1999

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*also google search will give you more results as well

Read the article. Rather vague and convenient that every attempted school shooting is broadly labeled 'Columbine Style' attacks.

Makes no reference to details or particulars.

I guess by that metric I could easily state that any time police execute a warrant on home it's "Clearly Government overreach Ruby Ridge style".


One threat assessment expert says the regular reference to shootings as “Columbine-style” has also contributed to the issue of copycats.


“Every single school shooting, the media calls it a Columbine-style attack,” said threat assessment expert John McDonald, who runs security for 157 schools Colorado’s Jefferson County, including Columbine High School.

Also this predates E & D.  Not sure why this wasn't as romanticized as Columbine?  Maybe the body count wasn't high enough for media sensationalism?  

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Then there is this

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_school_shootings_in_the_United_States_(before_2000)[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I still stand by my assertion that times have changed and the reasons, motives, circumstances are constantly evolving and giving Eric any kind of prophet status is rather premature.  He may have wanted that but I don't think in my opinion that he deserves a Madame Cleo elevation.


FWIW I am not trying to argue perse. Just opining

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So I've thought about this and I concede you're right on this

Quote :

Of course it is not but as I said, mass shootings have certainly increased since Columbine.

Don't forget that a lot of planned shootings have also been inspired by Columbine.

They have indeed inspired more school shootings than in the past.
I can't say I'd agree that Eric predicted it as I think he wanted more of what I interpret as an apocalyptic revolution. Whatever that is. There has certainly been no revolution thankfully. But they have indeed inspired. Even two on here tried a school shooting.
I don't think Eric was prophetic at all.

Imperator wrote:

Also this predates E & D.  Not sure why this wasn't as romanticized as Columbine?  Maybe the body count wasn't high enough for media sensationalism?  

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Then there is this

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_school_shootings_in_the_United_States_(before_2000)[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I still stand by my assertion that times have changed and the reasons, motives, circumstances are constantly evolving and giving Eric any kind of prophet status is rather premature.  He may have wanted that but I don't think in my opinion that he deserves a Madame Cleo elevation.


FWIW I am not trying to argue perse.  Just opining

There was an article a month before the 20th anniversary and they interviewed people who survived and they talked about how they felt like they were the "forgotten" shooting in the shadow of Columbine.

Screamingophelia wrote:

Imperator wrote:

Also this predates E & D.  Not sure why this wasn't as romanticized as Columbine?  Maybe the body count wasn't high enough for media sensationalism?  

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Then there is this

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_school_shootings_in_the_United_States_(before_2000)[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I still stand by my assertion that times have changed and the reasons, motives, circumstances are constantly evolving and giving Eric any kind of prophet status is rather premature.  He may have wanted that but I don't think in my opinion that he deserves a Madame Cleo elevation.


FWIW I am not trying to argue perse.  Just opining

There was an article a month before the 20th anniversary and they interviewed people who survived and they talked about how they felt like they were the "forgotten" shooting in the shadow of Columbine.

I think people immediately pushed off the Heath High School shooting and started talking about Columbine because it had such a higher death toll.

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I think people immediately pushed off the Heath High School shooting and started talking about Columbine because it had such a higher death toll.

Agreed.