Usually warning signs

There are usually warning signs for students who are on the "pathway to violence," expert says

From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury

Trish Kilpin, executive director of Wisconsin Department of Justice Office of School Safety, said that there are usually signs when a person is on the path to commit a dangerous act.

Speaking to CNN a day after two people were killed at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Kilpin said: “School violence is preventable and when students decide to use violence, they often do so after being upset, feeling some type of grievance or upset and they decide to use violence to resolve that issue. They progress on what we call a ‘pathway to violence.’”

Kilpin noted that they sometimes see indicators or warning behaviors that a person is struggling, has deepening desperation and despair “and often times peers and community members know about some of these plan to engage in this type of dangerous behavior.”

She urged members of the community to reach out to the tip line Speak Up, Speak Out Wisconsin if they know anything about any student planning an attack.

Kilpin noted that bullying and harassment is their most common tip and that the tip line has received more than 350 tips about concerns over someone potentially planning an attack —and over 11,000 tips overall — since that resource started.