In recent years, Americans have been shocked by the increasing number of mass murders occurring in and around churches in the U.S.  Research has formerly examined characteristics of school shooters, workplace shooters, or grouped an excess of varying incidents into the broad category of mass murder, but the behavioral study of church shootings is extremely limited.  It is proposed that research be conducted into incident analysis and the common behavioral characteristics of church shooters to determine if a profile can be developed which will aid in understanding and dealing with those who chose to target churches and their members for extreme and indiscriminate violence.

Dr. Mark McCoy