Time Trends in a Study of 440 Mass Slayings/Rampages Occurring in Public Places

• NCJ Number: 185059
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 45 Issue: 5 Dated: September 2000 Pages: 1028-1030
• Author(s): John J. Mooney M.D.; E. John Orav Ph.D.
• Editor(s): R. E. Gaensslen Ph.D.
• Date Published: September 2000
• Length: 3 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The authors looked for variations in the timing of mass slayings/rampages (MS/R) committed in public places by solitary perpetrators.

Abstract

News reports on 440 MS/R between 1920 and 1996 yielded 379 onset times that were examined for temporal patterns. Results showed a dramatic increase in the number of MS/R between 1966 and 1995. In addition, the authors observed significant monthly variations, with peaks in July-August and December and a bimodal daily rhythm for MS/R onset with a major peak at 11:00 a.m. and a minor peak at 8:00 p.m. The authors conclude that observed time trends for MS/R may help develop protective programs to reduce stress and violence in public places. 15 references and 2 figures