The University of Virginia student charged with three counts of murder was on the radar of the University Threat Assessment Team. He was involved in a hazing allegation and an allegation that he possessed a gun. He had been uncooperative with University Officials during their investigation. In addition, he was charged and convicted of reckless driving and a hit-and-run incident, as well as a concealed weapons charge in which he received a fine and a 12-month suspended sentence.
It is not only a tragedy that those young men lost their lives and others were injured but the grief that the families, friends, and bystanders will carry with them will last forever.
Could this have been prevented? What can we learn?
It appears that the delicate balance of student rights and privacy concern’s outweighed the swift action of the Threat Assessment Team – A difficult process for anyone who is involved.
This tragedy is additionally unfortunate for the University of Virginia since the Unofficial Threat Assessment Guide called The Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG), was originally known as the Virginia Student Threat Assessment Guidelines, and developed by Dr. Dewey Cornell and colleagues at the University of Virginia in 2001.
Threat Assessment Teams and Plans are a necessary tool in school safety preparedness to strengthen the Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, and Response activities.
Ivy Plus Associates is collaborating with Universities and K-12 School Districts to develop, plan and train Threat Assessment Teams. We hope we can help prevent another tragedy.