Is Lone Wolf Violence Preventable?
It’s pretty clear that Charlie Kirk’s assassin wanted to make some kind of statement or point with his actions.
He fired a single shot from a bolt action rifle that struck Kirk. He did not fire indiscriminately at the crowd. He also wore a shirt with the American flag and an eagle on it. Two well known symbols of our nation.
But, we won’t know what that point is unless, or until, the killer tells us himself. Typically through a manifesto, a video, or his own words.
We’re left guessing the why of his actions until that happens.
When it comes to a criminal prosecution, the why doesn’t matter. It’s not a necessary element needed in order to prove a homicide case beyond a reasonable doubt.
But here’s what we do know already. This killing was yet another in a series of high profile targeted attacks that was coldly and calculatingly planned and carried out by a lone individual. Commonly referred to as a lone wolf.
Lone wolf killings are becoming more common. And when an attack is that carefully planned out, the chances of preventing it before it happens are pretty low.
Kirk traveled with his own security detail. That didn’t stop the killing. Nor did the campus police assigned to cover the event.
As someone who provides workplace violence prevention consulting and training services, and intensive personal safety training to business owners and professionals, this incident raises the question, can lone wolf violence be prevented?
And the honest answer is…I don’t know.
But, you can prepare for it, and lessen the likelihood of it occurring. But, when it comes to preventing and surviving such an attack, luck helps. Sometimes more than prevention does.
Lone wolf violence is difficult to prevent for several reasons:
- With no co-conspirators, there’s less of a chance that law enforcement can be alerted before hand to the plot
- Because the person acts alone there’s a lower chance that any one element of the plot will be mishandled.
- A person acting alone maintains greater control over each aspect of the plot, which makes it easier to carry out reconnaissance inconspicuously.
- Lone wolf attackers often operate off the radar, unknown to the intended target.
So what can be done to reduce the likelihood that a lone wolf attack is successful?
Vigilance is the single most important step that can be taken to prevent lone wolf attacks. And that’s because of the reconnaissance element needed for such an attack. And because of the actions required to carry out the attack itself.
Satellite images of a location are readily available, as are street level views. But, they don’t convey all of the information an attacker needs to plan for an attack at an unfamiliar location. And interior locations and routes still have to be scouted in order to determine which paths to take during such an attack.
Paying careful attention to anyone who visits a location can alert you to a potential attacker and can also alert you to an attacker’s presence as an attack is about to unfold.
Businesses often have security cameras, but how many businesses actually review footage on a daily basis. With reviewing the footage daily, cameras are of limited security and safety value.
Assigning someone to review the video can help to expose someone who is conducting reconnaissance. And making sure that anyone who appears to be looking around
Requiring all visitors to a location to have to check in and present identification has a deterrent effect. At least on those lone wolves who plan to survive the attack they carry out.
Most attackers don’t want to make identifying themselves easy. So having a robust visitor check in process that includes the exterior of a location, and also restricts when a visitor is able to access a location can help cause a lone wolf attacker to either identify himself before an attack or to quit the planned attack.
And this type of check in process can help reduce the risk of a lone wolf attack at an event if the event uses a controlled visitor process.
Minimizing the amount of information that’s publicly available, such as is on your website, can also help reduce the likelihood that a lone wolf attack will succeed.
And while publicity is necessary part of business operations telegraphing activities before hand, makes it that much easier to target you.
So displaying that type of marketing material after the fact, is safer approach.
Preventing lone wolf violence is extremely difficult to do, but it’s not impossible. It requires adopting additional practices that, and potentially additional staff, which can feel burdensome. But it can be done.
