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Based on previous school shootings, it is likely that this shooter will share many of the same indicators as previous shooters. To the outsider, one might believe that the student who resorts to such violence would be an underachiever or have a low IQ. Studies show this to be just the opposite. Although grades may vary from failing to honor roll status, most school shooters have a tested IQ of above average.Few school shooters were formally diagnosed with a mental illness prior to the attacks and few had histories of drug or alcohol abuse. The mental status of those studied varies, but the strongest common denominator was nearly 75% had threatened or tried to take their own life at some point prior to the attack. What’s interesting is although 75% threatened suicide, only 50% of previous school shooters had been diagnosed with suffering from depression. Depression usually manifests itself in what some describe as a lethargic feeling or fatigue. Others symptoms include a dark outlook on life and a loss of interest of activities that they once enjoyed. When questioned about the future, someone suffering from depression will often express a feeling of hopelessness about their possibilities. In addition to depression, shooters seem to be full of anger and hatred toward others but they will rarely display or express this emotion. It is usually deeply buried and oppressed. This hidden emotion feeds into a feeling of depression and hopelessness. Nearly all described their school experience and sometimes their childhood as a daily hell. Many of them shut down their feelings so that nothing further can hurt them. They described the anger as continuing to build up inside, with no outlet or way to let it out. Some had occasional unpredictable and uncontrolled outburst of anger, but most kept it hidden. In the shooter’s mind, killing is a noble act. They are punishing the mean and the cruel in a self-appointed role as the vengeance police. []