The FBI’s former top profiler Mary Ellen O’Toole told Daily Mail this week law enforcement and school security around the nation should be on extra alert in the coming weeks as there’s a chance a copycat murderer could be influenced by this week’s Nashville, Tennessee shooting.
O’Toole warned of a “contagion” effect where other unhinged individuals are inspired by a publicized killer, such as 28-year-old female-to-male transgender shooter Audrey Hale who killed three kids and three adults at a Nashville Christian school.
The ex-FBI profiling expert also suggested officials refrain from releasing Hale’s manifesto as it could potentially encourage others to commit similar heinous acts.
In fact, she expects there “will be references to other shootings in the shooter’s [Hale] computer, her writings, her manifesto, etc.”
O’Toole, who is currently the director of forensic sciences at George Mason University, previously noted media attention of mass shootings often inspires others to become famous for going on killing sprees.
One thing is certain, on-campus security at schools across the nation must be more ready than ever and schools without armed security need to get with the program before it’s too late.