Page:Protective Intelligence and Threat Assessment Investigations - A Guide for State and Local Law Enforcement Officials.pdf/21

 analyzed about attackers of public officials and figures in the United States. Critical thinking about assassination behaviors proves these beliefs to be myths.

Much has been written about profiles of assassins, but in reality there are no accurate descriptive or demographic profiles of American assassins, attackers, and near-lethal approachers. American assassins and attackers have been both men and women of various ages, educational backgrounds, employment histories, and other demographic and background characteristics.

ECSP findings about the histories and personal characteristics of attackers and near-lethal approachers include the following:


 * Their ages ranged between 16 and 73.
 * Almost half had attended college or graduate school.
 * They often had histories of mobility and transience.
 * About two-thirds were described as socially isolated.
 * Few had histories of arrests for violent crimes or for crimes that involved weapons.
 * Few had been incarcerated in Federal or State prisons before their attack or attempt to attack a public figure.
 * Most had histories of weapons use, but few had formal weapons training.
 * Many had histories of harassing other persons.
 * Most had histories of explosive, angry behavior, but only half of the individuals had histories of physically violent behavior.
 * Many had indicated their interest in attacking a public figure to someone else.