THE FINAL VICTIM : Do mass shooters who commit suicide differ from those who do not?

Abstract: Many mass-shooters commit suicide. Both mass shooting and suicide has been linked to Strain Theory. Studies have shown that workplace shootings often occur after the shooter has been fired. Studies have found that school shooters often have been exposed to bullying and social exclusion. Research on mass shooters who are terrorists has yielded conflicting results. The purpose of this study was to examine which types of mass shootings that end with the perpetrator committing suicide. The sample consisted of 345 cases from the United States, as well as some high profile cases from other countries. The results showed that there is an association between the perpetrator's relationship to both the victim and the type of target, and that the perpetrator committing suicide. This has potential implications for the link between the mass shootings and Strain theory. Increased knowledge about this may contribute to more effective crime prevention strategies.