The recent Wisconsin prom shooting may be regarded as one of the effects of high school bullying. Students at Antigo High School said that the 18-year-old aggressor was being bullied in school and was a known introvert prior to the incident.
Many peers of the Wisconsin gunman said that student bullying may have been the triggering factor behind the shooting. According to one student named Katie Arrowwod, they all knew that Jakob Wagner was bullied.
Prom Night Scare
CBS News said that during the Antigo High School prom night, Wagner shot two students who were leaving the prom. He had with him a high-powered rifle. He also brought along extra ammunition, all showing the evil intent impelling the student.
While Wagner's attempt to kill didn't end up in the death of the victims, Wagner himself died after a police officer fired at him while he was shooting outside the school. The two victims of Wagner sustained injuries which were fortunately not life threatening.
Wagner Broke Up With Girlfriend
Aside from the student bullying, another angle being looked into is that Wagner recently broke up with a girl he was dating. One possibility is that his pent up emotions about being bullied in school plus his recent breakup ignited the fire that caused the rage.
According to the Chicago Tribune, authorities have not yet confirmed whether student bullying was the motive behind the shooting. They also declined to comment on the matter.
Mother Says Wagner Not A Monster
Lorrie Wagner, the mother of Jakob Wagner, said that her son was not a monster. Such statement was implying that it was high school student bullying that drove her son to open fire outside the Antigo High School.
"If anything, I hope it shines light on bullying and how deeply it affects people," said Lorrie. Other students who were Jakob's classmates since middle school said that Jakob was indeed being bullied. Students would gang up on Wagner and would call him names.
The Wisconsin prom shooting may be a compelling reason for authorities to start addressing student bullying. Gov. Scott Walker, Republican, said that students must be taught how to resolve issues in a peaceful manner.
