The shock, sorrow and bewilderment that invariably follow mass violence came to the Twin Cities Thursday with the shooting deaths of four victims and a gunman at Accent Signage Systems in the Bryn Mahr neighborhood of Minneapolis. Four others were wounded.
It is tempting to say at this early stage that we don't yet have enough information to understand the circumstances that led to the shooting – or something like that. But more information won't really allow us to "understand" it. In some ways more details in cases such as this only deepen the painful mystery as to how emotional or psychological distress, misfortune and social or workplace frictions can combine explosively in some individuals and lead to heinous acts.
Still, we must await more information and hope it sheds light on how such tragedies can be prevented. For now, the community grieves with the families and friends of the victims.
