JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- It was a violent act for which there's no good explanation. Why did Adam Lanza kill so many?
Licensed Mental Health Counselor Cindy Richetti says Lanza may have been like so many other mass killers: isolated, hurting, believing he was the victim.
"They get some kind of joy out of hurting others because they're hurting so much. They feel they don't belong, don't matter, and if they don't matter then nobody else matters."
Richetti says Lanza was likely desperate for attention - good or bad - and probably knew his name would make headlines.
"The victims are often only described in very brief terms whereas the person who caused the problem gets a lot of attention."
It's a twisted, misguided glory that mass killers often seek, and attention that fuels their anger, pushing them to act in ways we may never fully understand.
"Often it is just a very elaborate suicide attempt because they know they will not walk out."
The holiday season may have also been a factor. Richetti says emotions are stronger this time of year, and often people feel hopeless which causes them to feel desparate. She says it's important to reach out to people this time of year, and not ignore any issues you see.
