Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 18 December 2024

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters.

Police chief: ‘Combination of factors’ likely fueled motive in Abundant Life Christian School shooting

The Christian Post reports:

The motive behind a shooting at Abundant Life Christian School, where a student murdered a teacher and a student and injured several others, appears to be the result of “a combination of factors,” authorities said Tuesday. 

The attack, which occurred in a study hall at the private Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin, ended with 15-year-old shooter (name omitted) taking her own life.

 “We’re looking at multiple factors, including possible bullying,” Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said in a news conference on Tuesday. “Identifying a motive is our top priority, but at this time, it appears the motive involves a combination of factors.” 

Additional articles:

• Abundant Life Christian School shooting latest: Madison schools report ‘false threats’
• (Name omitted)’s Home Raided, Video Appears to Suggest
• Court records point to troubled home life for Wisconsin school shooter

Analyst Comments:

There may be a possibility of stopping an attack in the planning stage. Being able to recognize the signs of a future attack is an important aspect of physical security.  

White Paper: The Hostile Event Attack Cycle (HEAC), 2021 Update

As is stated on Gate 15’s White Paper: The Hostile Event Attack Cycle (HEAC), 2021 Update website, “A basic understanding of the Hostile Events Attack Cycle (HEAC) is a critical element in the development of a functional and effective plan to prepare for, and perhaps prevent, a hostile attack against an individual, group, or physical facility.”

The Hostile Event Attack Cycle (HEAC) white paper presents the steps that a potential attacker takes. Recognizing these actions of a potential attacker can help prevent the attack.

U.S. Violent Extremist Mobilization Indicators Booklet

The 2021 U.S. Violent Extremist Mobilization Indicators Booklet provides a catalog of observable behaviors that could signal whether individuals or groups are pursuing ideologically-motivated violent extremist activities. This 34 page booklet is published by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and produced by National Counterterrorism Center  (NCTC), FBI, and DHS.

The booklet groups telltale indicators into the following three Behavior Stages:

• Mobilization Indicators
• Preparation Indicators
• Motivation Indicators

Observers of the behaviors are grouped in five categories:

• Family Members and Peers
• Social Media Users
• Community Authority Figures and Members, which includes religious leaders and teachers.
• Commercial Sector Representatives
• Financial Sector Representatives

The booklet then presents the indicators grouped by the three Behavior Stages. Each Indicator lists who may observe these behaviors, including peers, social media users, religious leaders or teachers. This method allows faith-based schools to know which indicators to be watchful for.

The two resources above provide indicators of the intent to carry out a violent attack. If possible, intervening during the planning of an attack is better than responding to an attack. Vigilance by staff and an atmosphere where students are comfortable reporting Indicators can help prevent attacks.  

Additionally, the 16 December 2024 Daily Awareness Post provided links to resources useful as a quick review and others that can be used for initial long-term plan development or improving current plans.

As always, Faith-Based ISAO’s website provides resources in the Resource Library, including information on Securing Facilities and People and Securing School Facilities and Students.