2 More School Shootings Today Proving Workplace Violence is a Global Problem
Two school shootings occurring at opposite ends of the globe were carried out today, continuing to prove that school and other forms of workplace violence is not just an American concern.
Heritage High School, Virginia, USA
A male student has been taken into custody following an active shooter episode at Heritage High School in Newport News, Virginia. Four students were transported to the hospital and all other students, faculty and staff were evacuated from the high school following the attack.
In media reports, School Superintendent George Parker III stated he anticipates classes will proceed with virtual learning for the next few days in light of today's tragic events.
Virginia is home to one of the deadliest and most notorious school shootings in the country's history.
On April 16, 2007, a Columbine copycat murdered 32 people and wounded 17 others at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg. Students, faculty and staff were murdered and/or wounded that day.
Earlier today, the WVPI published a blog mentioning the 2015 live, on-air killings of WDBJ journalists Alison Parker and Adam Ward in Roanoke, Virginia.
Ms. Parker was shot to death while she was interviewing a local chamber of commerce executive Vicki Gardner, who was shot but thankfully survived, as Mr. Ward operated the television station's camera. Later, the disgruntled former employee who perpetrated these vicious crimes was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Perm Stage University, Urals, Russia.
Meantime, on the other side of the globe, a student, age 18, armed with a rifle and a knife opened fire at Perm State University, which is located approximately 700 miles east of Moscow in the Russian city of Urals.
Photo taken from inside Perm State University on September 20, 2021 revealing a bullet-riddled window courtesy of Russian news agency TASS
At least eight people are reported to have died and 24 others wounded during the attack. One of the wounded victims was reported to have been a school security guard who warned others of the developing active shooter episode.
Another security guard confronted the shooter and detained him after wounding him with shots fired by his service revolver. The perpetrator was taken to the hospital for treatment. It is unclear how many more innocents might have been killed or wounded but for the quick actions of the school's professional security.
Today's tragedy marks the second mass shooting at a Russian school in the last four months.
On May, 11 2021, nine people were killed and 23 others injured at a shooting/bombing which occurred in Kazan, Tatarstan at School No. 175.
The 19-year-old perpetrator responsible for the tragedy at School No. 175, identified as a former student, was taken into custody. He is currently awaiting trial.
Additionally, in October 2018, an 18-year-old student armed with bombs and a rifle and dressed similarly to one of the Columbine killers, murdered 20 people and wounded 70 others at the Kerch Polytechnic College in Crimea. He committed suicide in the school's library, exactly as the two Columbine killers did.
School and other forms of workplace violence can be predicted and therefore prevented.
Please read our prior published articles on this topic on this website or email us at www.workplaceviolencepreventioninstitute.org
Please watch the following short video filmed by WVPI founder Kathleen M. Bonczyk, MBA, Esq. entitled "Workplace Violence is a Global Problem."
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