Threats must be taken seriously

When Jason Hamilton told a mental health evaluator that he planned to kill himself by committing a mass shooting or bombing, the message was clear he needed help.

It was clear the 36-year-old janitor wanted to take others with him when he died.

It was clear he posed a threat to society.

Despite his comments, Hamilton was judged not to be in need of commitment to a mental health facility and was released.

That was in February.

On Saturday, about three months later, he fatally shot his wife in the head at their residence about three miles outside of Moscow. He then drove to the Latah County Courthouse, where his wife worked as a maintenance person. Hamilton was armed with two military rifles, which he fired into the sheriff's department dispatch center, located in the courthouse. He also blasted several vehicles in the parking lot.

When police responded, he killed one officer, wounded two others and wounded a Good Samaritan who had run to the scene when he heard gunshots.

Hamilton then took refuge across the street in the Presbyterian Church he had cleaned as a janitor.

He killed a church official who tried calling 911 and then began firing at the police outside before killing himself Sunday morning. Police never shot back.

Authorities believe Hamilton fired about 200 times during the fulfilling of his prophecy to the evaluator in February that he would not leave this world without bringing others with him.

It's amazing more people were not killed when Hamilton decided to commit suicide by mass shooting.

If anything, his story is more proof that those who hint that they want to inflict tragedy on a massive scale must be taken seriously by not just authorities, but by anyone who hears their words.

Looking back on Hamilton's record shows that he was someone who needed help.

In 2005, according to the Associated Press, he was arrested for domestic violence against a woman he was having an extramarital affair with and was sentenced to two years of probation. Court records indicate he attempted to strangle the woman.

The court prohibited him from purchasing or possessing firearms at that point. Unfortunately he had purchased the two rifles used in last weekend's tragedy before being charged and authorities did not know he had them.

On Feb. 16, he tried to commit suicide and was twice evaluated for involuntary commitment to a mental health facility. It was during one of these evaluations that he mentioned his plans to commit a mass shooting or bombing.

Hamilton had recently been in court for a probation violation because he had stopped going to counseling. Perhaps he should have been taken into custody then and there.

Authorities say they're stumped as to why Hamilton went on his rampage.

"We have not found any note," said David Duke, assistant chief of the Moscow Police Department. "We do not have any motive at this time. We have no idea."

Our nation's public school districts have learned the hard way that any student hinting of violence needs to be taken into police custody. Any hint of a threat at school, such as the recent false report that a student was being assaulted at Highland High School in Pocatello, warrants swift action by authorities.

Highland was locked down because of the report and police converged on the school and searched for the student until it was determined no threat existed.

Because of the tragedy at Virginia Tech in April, officials at institutions of higher learning also know that not taking threats from a student seriously can result in unimaginable tragedy.

Incidents like the one perpetrated by Hamilton are not uncommon. Nationwide, it's a story we're hearing far too often — someone with a history of mental problems, brushes with the law and threats against others finally snaps.

What we as a society must realize is that if anyone — a co-worker, family member or friend — hints at violence they should not be thought of as harmless or blowing off steam, especially if they have mental problems.

Taking such threats for granted can result in what happened in Moscow last weekend — four dead and a community left grieving and searching for answers.

Those who threaten to hurt others need help. To ignore them is to invite tragedy.