LA Fitness Shooter

George Sodini was not a normal guy

When you think about it, and I think his neighbors have probably thought a lot about it.  George Sodini, the LA fitness shooter seemed like a pretty normal guy.  Watching the interview with one of his neighbors on CBS this morning, the one female neighbor and her fiancé reported he seemed like a pretty normal guy.  However, it is no shocker that seemingly normal guys do not take handguns and walk into the place where they have a membership, and shoot people.

Don’t ignore that creepy  feeling

Although the one neighbor eluded to the fact, George was a loner; there were clues.  Clues that the neighbor, you and I, would have said, “Well, that seems a little odd.”  But the truth is, the warning signs were there but over time we have been conditioned to ignore our gut instincts.  Think about it.  How many times have you had a creepy feeling about someone, but you talked yourself out of it and told yourself you were just being paranoid.

Similar profile killer in St. Peter, Minnesota

Just a little more than a week ago, a young single mother of a four year old from St. Peter, Minnesota was killed by her “50 something neighbor”.  The child was found unharmed.  The woman had confided in her fiancé that the neighbor “gave her the creeps”, but she thought he was harmless.  She relayed to her fiancé that the neighbor was infatuated with her, but she went with him to cash a check.  Like the LA Fitness shooter, after killing his victim, he took his own life. 

Early warning signs to pay attention to

In both cases, there were definitely warning signs.  Here are some things you should pay attention to:

• Pay attention to your first reaction.  If someone “gives you the creeps” or “makes your skin crawl”, this is a warning sign that should not be ignored.  Children are actually very good judges of character.  Watch how children observe the people around them.  Most children do not run up to people they think are creepy.  They will hide their head, hide behind their parent, and do just about anything to avoid that person.  As parents, we recondition our children to “be nice”.  We basically teach them to ignore their instincts about people…bad idea.
• People who are “loners”.  These people are usually introverts with no visitors, and often without pets.    Neighbors or co-workers may label them as “the nicest people” yet know nothing of this person’s hobbies, interests or personal life.
• Socially awkward.  This person is anything but graceful in social settings.  Often saying the wrong things at the wrong time or makes statements perceived as strange, weird or inappropriate.  People may even avoid socializing with this person or make excuses to leave when this person is present.
• Inappropriate display of emotions.  This can range from expressing extreme concern and caring for someone barely more than an acquaintance to an over abundance of attention lavished on someone who does not want it.  It can also be a sense of detached emotion or extreme calmness during a situation that would usually cause a different reaction in most people.
• The “mall test”.  Any person that would cause you to pick that person out of a crowd at the mall as “just not normal” is someone to consider staying away from.

Listen to your inner voice to stay safe

While the list of warning signs is not all inclusive, it gives everyone something to think about.  Does it mean someone who meets all of the warning signs above is the next LA Fitness shooter?  Definitely not.  What it means is pay attention to those around you and their behaviors.  If something seems “not quite right”, it is your inner voice telling you that you need to be careful.

While many mourn the slain young mother from St. Peter, Minnesota and the victims of the LA Fitness shooter, paying attention to the warning signs may help you and your loved ones avoid becoming a victim.