Examining the Causation of Crime: Man Stabbed to Death on White Rock Trail in Dallas

In 2015, ABC news depicts the story of a young man who hacks another person to death with a machete in a fit of rage (ABC, 2015). Although there were witnesses who also called the police, reportedly the man called the police on himself after the fact. He claimed he was enraged that he was recently evicted from his residence (ABC, 2015). The defendant has no previous violent history, though he was charged with burglary last year (ABC, 2015). Apparently, he formerly played football for Dallas Skyline High School in 2012 and ran away for three days (ABC, 2015).

 My impression was that the person must have pretty out of their mind to want to hack someone to death with a machete. That is a very violent and up-close type of murder, in contrast, to say a shooting which you can do from yards away. I also felt in the video news report there was an emphasis made on the fact that the man was generally well-liked, mannered, and played football (ABC, 2015). I felt the emphasis on his football history was a little out of place. I am assuming they mentioned it in connection with a previous story that made the media involving the man disappearance from a football game a few years back. I think they inserted this information to indicate a pattern of bizarre behavior. 

The purpose of the storied portrayed is to inform the public of the recent murder, but also inform them of the facts about the murderer and victim. The crime was portrayed as random or unexpected. It was also portrayed as an act of rage. The criminal justice system in Texas was portrayed as harsh. The report mentions that in Texas there is a high probability of the death penalty.

The defendant was recently kicked out of his house and had previously been arrested for burglary. This seems to indicate to me there was some financial struggle that was weighing on him. This expression of financial strain in conjunction with his admission that he was enraged because of the loss of his residence makes radical criminology theory seem like a plausible explanation of his behavior. Radical criminology theory blamed the causation of crime on the unequal distribution of wealth and power in society (Schmalleger, 2014, p. 97). This theory argued that those who disenfranchised were more likely to have pent up frustrated feelings that lead them to crimes like rape, theft, and murder (Schmalleger, 2014, p. 97).

Another potential causation of this crime might be in an imbalance in neurotransmitters, especially serotonin. Serotonin inhibits the effect of “irritating experiences that might otherwise result in anger and aggression” (Schmalleger, 2014, p. 83). Low serotonin levels can result from something as simple like ingesting toxic pollutants like “lead and manganese” or from a genetic variation, such as men with an extra Y chromosome (Schmalleger, 2014, p. 83). I suggested the imbalance of chemicals because he has no previous violent history, is generally regarded as a likable. An imbalance would account for a sudden deviation from that pattern of behavior.

Examining the Causation : New Details Emerge In Probe Of Oregon College Shooting

In 2015, the CBS News reported on the investigation into Chris Harper-Mercer and the massacre he has been deemed responsible for, at the Umpqua Community College, in Oregon. Although the article reports briefly about the crime, the victims, and the investigators, the focus of the report is on information pertaining to the shooter (CBS, 2015). Apparently, Mercer left behind a multi-page typed note that media has since been depicted his “manifesto” (CBS, 2015). The media describes the contents of the note as the “philosophical ranting of someone who was mad at the world” (CBS, 2015). It also stated that the contents of his note reveal Mercer had a low opinion of himself and his place in the world (CBS, 2015). Moreover, the shooter's social media pages suggest he was interested in the “IRA, frustrated by traditional organized religion and tracked other mass shootings” (CBS, 2015). Reportedly one social media post even suggests he was impressed with the “limelight” that other mass murderers had received for massacre shootings (CBS, 2015).

In the main picture in the article is of the police standing solemn-faced as they stand guard outside the apartment of the shooter. In conjunction with the image, the text in the article presents the criminal justice system as competent, well informed, and vigilant in their search for answers and possible motivation. Though they indicate as of yet there is no connection to any outside involvement or specific reasoning found, the information found and presented seems to suggest that the shooter had premeditated the crime for a long time (CBS, 2015). There is also the implication from the bulletproof vest that the shooter expected to be met with equal force and in a shoot-off with police (CBS, 2015).

Overall the article makes you feel as though the shooter was mentally unwell previous to the shooting. An example: In the first paragraph they cite, depressed and angry (CBS, 2015). Then later reporting they report he had feelings of low self-worth and/or feelings of hopelessness in regard to his place in the world (CBS, 2015).

From a psychological perspective, crime is explained on the individual level, as the result of dysfunctional thought processes and/or behavioral patterns, and/or personality characteristics (Conklin, 2008). The psychological theories that can explain the Umpqua Community College Shootings could be the “psychotic offender”, or a personality “trait theory” which resulted in a “rampage killing”. A personality trait theory perspective would indicate that certain features of personality may contribute to a persistent pattern of behavior that leads one to trouble with the law (Conklin, 2008). Whereas the psychotic patient may be driven impulsively to criminality by the onset of delusions or grandiose ideas (Schmalleger, 2014).

In this example, the investigators reported that the shooter had previously joined the US military in 2008 but was discharged after he failed to meet the military’s standards in boot camp (CBS, 2015). Perhaps this personal failure, in conjunction with “the personal inability, to tolerate frustration without resorting to aggression and violence” could have contributed to his violent behavior (Conklin, 2008). This would be concurrent with both “life course perspective” suggests that turning events in people’s lives can contribute to criminality and psychological theories that indicate a dysfunctional personality features are at the root of criminality.

Being that the crime has multiple victims, is not related to domestic or gang homicide, follows (although not immediately) the discharge from military, and involves a mentally unwell shooter who later dies on the scene, the reported crime fits the description of a rampage killing (Conklin, 2008). Unfortunately, many of these rampage killings involve victims who are unrelated to the cause of the rampage, such as students and teachers (Conklin, 2008). But, the most distinctive features of rampage killings is that the shooters are previously viewed as mentally unstable or mentally unwell and die either by suicide or engaging in activity that will likely kill them (i.e. shooting at an officer) (Conklin, 2008). Thus, it possible, given the information, that the killer was mentally ill, perhaps psychotic, but obviously depressed, filled with self-hatred, and based on his actions-ready to die.

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Examining the Causation of Crime: “Devastated mom says boy shot her 8-year-old daughter dead over puppy”

The NyPost (2015) reports on the murder of an 8-year-old little girl by her neighbor. Reportedly the murderer was her 11-year-old the neighbor who shot her to death from inside his house (Nypost, 2015). According to the little girl’s playmate, who saw witnessed the whole thing, the shooting followed the little girl who refused to let the boy see her puppy (Nypost, 2015). The article mentions a previous history of the boy bullying the girl (Nypost, 2015). The criminal justice system was barely mentioned but portrayed as having no comment (Nypost, 2015). Accordingly, they did not cooperate with the media’s inquiries into the crime. As he is a minor accused of serious crime the article states his arraignment hearing will be a closed the public (Nypost, 2015). Assumingly the criminal justice system has taken this stance to protect the boy’s rights to a fair trial.

The article makes you feel sad for both the families involved. I worry about the happiness of the other little girl who was playing with the victim. The purposeful mention of previous bulling brings the aggressive nature of the boy front and center in my mind. I also felt concerned that the boy child had access to and knew how to operate his father’s shotgun in the first place. Especially considering he had a history of verbal aggression (bullying) towards his schoolmate.

Psychological theories about crime include observations of conscious and subconscious processes of the human psyche that can contribute to criminal behavior (Schmalleger, 2014). Theories that could explain this murder include “trait theories” as well as psychopathological theories that suggest a disorganized antisocial personality development is at the heart of criminal behavior (Schmalleger, 2014, p. 84). Trait theory links personality (and associated traits) to behaviors that indicate a proclivity for criminal behavior, for example, self-centeredness, indifference to the suffering and needs of others, impulsiveness, and low self-control (Schmalleger, 2014). From the psychological perspective, there are many conscious and unconscious contributors to the young killer’s behavior including “individual’s personality features, combined with his or her intelligence and natural abilities” (Schmalleger, 2014).

A possible feature of personality that could have contributed to this murder is high levels of aggression in combination with a low threshold for frustration (Conklin, 2008). Normally boys have more aggression than girls anyway (Conklin, 2008). However, when combined with an inability to deal with frustration without resorting to violence this can be a toxic mix (Conklin, 2008). In this example: If the boy had a low threshold for frustration and high levels of aggression the combination could have led him to act violently in the face of interpersonal conflict with the girl.

Another psychological perspective might paint the boy as a

developing psychopath or sociopath.  The hallmark feature psychopathy is the early onset of a pattern of behavior that demonstrates an inability to empathize with others as well as a marked disregard for the welfare of others (Schmalleger, 2014). The development of these antisocial features of personality are said to occur in early adolescence and is associated with disconnected parental attachment and early child abuse (ChildhoodTraumaRecovery, 2013). 

Not surprising, the research concerning child murderers indicates that risk factors for child murderers include “severe rejection by one or both parents” and lack of role model from whom they can learn empathic behavior (Conklin, 2008). Other studies cite this same type of childhood maltreatment as the cause of deformations in the amygdala, a thinning of the outer layer of the cortex and, an average 18-percent volume reduction in the part of the brain that is responsible for the governing of emotions (ChildhoodTraumaRecovery, 2013).

References

CBSNews. (2015). New Details Emerge In Probe Of Oregon College Shooting. Retrieved from

CBSNews and The Associated Press. Retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/oregon-shooting-umpqua-community-college-chris-harper-mercer-investigation/

Childhood Trauma Recovery. (2013). The Relationship Between Trauma and Psychopathy. Retried from http://childhoodtraumarecovery.com/2013/05/11/childhood-trauma-its-relationship-to-psychopathy/

Conklin, John E. Criminology, 10th Edition. Pearson Learning

Solutions, 12/2008. VitalBook file.

NyPost. (2015). Devastated Mom Says Boy Shot her 8-year-old

daughter dead over a puppy. Associated Press. Retrieved from http://nypost.com/2015/10/05/devastated-mom-says-boy-shot-her-8-year-old-daughter-dead-over-puppy/

Schmalleger, Frank J. Criminal Justice Today: An

Introductory Text for the 21st Century, 13th Edition. Pearson Learning Solutions, 01/2014. VitalBook file.