By Cheryl Mattox Berry
Authorities are investigating the background of the 24-year-old man accused of fatally shooting 12 moviegoers and wounding 58 others in Aurora, Colo., last week. They’re asking classmates, acquaintances and neighbors questions about the gunman in an effort to piece together what drove him to commit such a heinous act. Were there obvious signs overlooked by the people who came into contact with him? That’s the main question.
Law enforcement officials can usually connect the dots after tragedy has struck. In interviews, subjects recall something strange the person did or said leading up to the incident. Some of these acts and statements are so blatant that it defies logic why nobody reported the person to police.
Two years ago, the Department of Homeland Security launched a campaign, “If You See Something, Say Something,” to raise public awareness of terrorism and violent crime. That slogan should be applied to people we deal with every day.
You never know what kind of pressure a person is under or what’s going on in someone’s head. The economic downturn, which has resulted in high unemployment, foreclosure, bankruptcy and the uprooting of families, has created a lot of stress for parents and teens. These life-changing events, combined with the usual teenage angst, can cause personality changes that may lead to the person harming herself or others.
If you notice that a sibling or friend’s behavior is out of character, don’t ignore it. Question her about what she’s doing and why. Listen carefully to what she says. Note the unusual things she does. Share your concerns with others who know her. Compare notes. If everyone is convinced that something is wrong, take your concerns and evidence to someone who can do something about it, such as her parents, a teacher or counselor.
Too often, we decide not to get involved when things don’t seem right. It’s none of our business, we tell ourselves? Yet, when something awful happens, we beat ourselves up because we saw the signs but kept quiet. When something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Speak up! Trust your gut. You just may save someone’s life or many lives.