Stop us if this sounds familiar. An unstable individual displays disturbing behavior and makes threats to carry out a horrific violent crime. It’s concerning enough that someone — someone who’s no doubt heard the “If you see something, say something” PSAs hundreds of times — calls the police. Even the feds get involved. And in the end, nothing is done. Well, not until the individual who raised all of those metaphorical red flags finally makes good on his threats and kills a lot of people.
These people have come to be known as “known wolves.” Someone who police have had contact with in the past, but couldn’t or wouldn’t do anything about it.
If you need some examples of “known wolves,” how about these… Nidal Hassan, Omar Mateen, Elton Simpson, Nikolas Cruz, Devin Patrick Kelley, Dylann Roof, Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, and Samuel Cassidy. Now we have another name to add to the law enforcement fecklessness hall of shame…Georgia school shooter Colt Gray.
As CBS News reports . . .
The teen had been interviewed after the FBI received anonymous tips in May 2023 about online threats to commit an unspecified school shooting, the agency said in a statement.
FBI Atlanta said on social media Wednesday night that the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center found that the posts came from Georgia, and “the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office referred the information to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office,” which is adjacent to Barrow County.
The sheriff’s office interviewed the then-13-year-old and his father, who said there were hunting guns in the house but the teen did not have unsupervised access to them. The teen also denied making any online threats.
The sheriff’s office alerted local schools for continued monitoring of the teen, but there was no probable cause for arrest or additional action, the FBI said.
After years of these kinds of embarrassing incidents eventually leaking out into public view, the FBI has apparently decided that getting the information out there sooner rather than later is ultimately less damaging. Here’s the statement the Bureau’s Atlanta office yesterday . . .
You’d be forgiven if you’re starting to conclude that saying something after you’ve seen something is just a waste of your time and effort. As for all of the gun control and other laws the 14-year-old shooter broke in the process of murdering four people and wounding nine more yesterday, grandiose legislation like the federal Gun-Free Schools Act didn’t seem to do much deterrence. Again. Still.
Meanwhile, as the shooting took place during the fat part of election season, we got plenty of thoughtful, measured reactions like this one . . .
Another tragic day in America: 4 people were killed and 9 were injured in a school shooting at Apalachee High School, in Georgia. Parents and students everywhere are terrified they could be next. No one should live in fear of sending their kids to school. #EndGunViolence pic.twitter.com/dILtrcUkJA
— Brady | United Against Gun Violence (@bradybuzz) September 4, 2024
The news that Gray was stopped by two school resource officers (cops) who were stationed at the school comes as the head of the Democrat ticket is someone who has let it be known in the past that she really prefers that all schools be left completely unprotected because of guns and equity. Or something.
And so it goes.
Somehow I think details in this case may be slow to be released. I have questions regarding “hunting rifle” and numbers of people shot but VA tech did show that isn’t always a factor. So see what shakes out and can’t find fucks to give re giving any rights away due to emotional blackmail….I mean appeal.
According to every credible report and record the school shooter in Georgia is cursed with parents who are reprehensible people. The mother is a long time drug addict who stole from the family, threatened to harm herself and her children. The father is a domestic abuser. They created this monster. Chances are he wanted someone to kill him. A disaster not unique or rare in today’s world save it does not usually go this bad. I would bet anything that each will cast blame elsewhere and skirt responsibility.
I see where you’re going with this, but be careful, it almost sounds like you are for red flag laws.
In and of themselves, red flag laws aren’t wrong. The problem with all the red flag laws we read about is the lack of due process. You shouldn’t have your guns arbitrarily taken because a jealous ex wants to get even. But, if you really do threaten to shoot her, the kids, her parents, and any cop who gets in the way, then of course a judge should decide that you lose your guns. Due process is key here. A judge can condemn you to death for the right reasons, but he has to give you due process.