Some details of Monday’s school shooting in Nickel Mines, Pa., mirror last week’s tragedy at Platte Canyon High School in Bailey.
And some experts say Duane R. Morrison’s deadly actions at the Colorado high school Wednesday may have garnered the attention of a copycat killer determined to do worse.
“There are many people out there who need only the story, the criminal act of somebody else to tip them,” said Don Lindley, professor of sociology and psychology at Regis University.
Law enforcement officials agree there are strong indications of copycat behavior.
“It’s hard to believe that there are two people out there who think this way,” said Lance Clem, spokesman for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Park County Sheriff Fred Weg ener, still reeling from the horrific crime in his hometown, sent his condolences to Monday’s victims. “My heart and prayers go out to the citizens of Nickel Mines. … If there is anything that I or my staff can do to help, please give us a call,” Wegener said.
He added in an interview later: “I wouldn’t wish anything like this on anybody else. Anything we could do for the community we would, including sending officers to help them.”
But law enforcement on the scene downplayed the link between the two shootings. “I really believe this was about this individual and what was going on inside his head,” said Pennsylvania police Commissioner Jeffrey B. Miller.
Mental health experts say news of the shooting at the Amish school is bound to add more trauma to the citizens of Bailey.
“I’m sure it will heighten everyone’s awareness,” said Cynthia Doty, spokeswoman for Pikes Peak Mental Health.
What could particularly hurt the Bailey community, which Pikes Peak serves, is that the Amish girls were held as hostages, as were the girls at Platte Canyon High, she said.
Like Morrison, the gunman in Nickel Mines left a note for his family.
Charles Carl Roberts IV also called his wife from a cellphone, saying he was acting out in revenge for something that happened 20 years ago.
Lindley said there is a danger of copycat shootings for at least a month after the initial crime.
“These acts that are reported act as a trigger for them,” Lindley said. Copycats “do the behavior because they feel they have permission.
“We are going to see more of this until people who commit these crimes fade away,” he said.
A copycat may feel the previous crime gives him or her permission to copy the crime or try to outdo the previous incident, experts said. “This guy (in Pennsylvania) did not go in and kill one person – he killed (younger) kids, and two or three of them,” Lindley said. “Now he is king of the hill.”
Staff writers Allison Sherry and Ann Schrader and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Staff writer Felisa Cardona can be reached at 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com.
