BEHAVIORAL
Several plotters displayed symptoms of, or were diagnosed with, behavioral disorders, including disruptive disorders. One plotter was admitted to the hospital for a mental health evaluation after a tip was received about the attack. Prior to this, she had been diagnosed with multiple conditions, to include conduct disorder. She had been prescribed medication but stopped taking it due to its side effects, and she irregularly attended treatment due to the cost of the sessions.
NEUROLOGICAL/DEVELOPMENTAL
Several plotters evidenced a history of developmental issues and neurological conditions, including developmental delays, learning disabilities (e.g., dyslexia), neurological conditions or symptoms (e.g., fetal alcohol syndrome, sensory sensitivity), and diagnoses within the autism spectrum.
A 14-year-old male was arrested after a classmate told the principal that the student had two guns and was plotting an attack. The plotter had shown several students his firearms and told them of his intentions to target students and staff whom he felt mistreated and bullied him. When the plotter was an infant he had been removed from the custody of his biological parents due to their drug and alcohol abuse. He was subsequently diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome along with reactive attachment disorder due to childhood neglect.