Table 1.
Descriptor categories for mass shooting media coverage.
| Name of category | Sample of descriptors included in the category (total number of descriptors in category) |
|---|---|
| Race | For example, Russian, Native American, descent, origins (22) |
| Humanizing | For example, stellar, average, prominent, hardworking, remorseful, hunter, republican, retired (68) |
| Negative level 1 | For example, possessive, cold, weird, coward, killer, twisted, isolated (35) |
| Negative level 2 | For example, horrible, vermin, menace, brutal, ruthless, savage (23) |
| Uncaring | For example, heartless, indiscriminate, brazen, brutal, petty (15) |
| Family | For example, father, mom, son, uncle, family friend, grandson (13) |
| Romantic | Husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend (4) |
| Occupation | For example, employee, investor, nurse, sailor, student, mechanic (10) |
| Citizenship | Immigrant, alien, citizen (3) |
| Mass shooting | For example, mass murder, mass, massacre, mass killing (6) |
| Terrorism | Terrorist, extremist, terrorism (3) |
| Criminal record | For example, criminal record, parole, probation, prior convictions, sex offender (11) |
| Execution | Execution, execution-style (2) |
| Reckless | Reckless, brazen (2) |
| Shocking | For example, baffling, unbelievable, inconceivable, unreal, jaw dropping (10) |
| Sad | For example, tragic, heartbreaking, gut-wrenching (5) |
| Scary | Scary, terrifying, horrifying, horrific (4) |
| Gang related | Gang, gang related, gang associated, with gang ties (4) |
| Mental health | For example, diagnosed, schizophrenia, depression, disabilities, PTSD (16) |
| “Crazy” | Raving, unhinged, crazy (3) |
| Armed and dangerous | Armed, dangerous (2) |
| Domestic | Domestic, estranged, romantic (3) |
| Physical description | For example, height, weight, complexion, afro, buzz cut, light-skinned, tattoos (21) |
| Random | Random (1) |
| Not random | For example, not random, targeted, calculated, intentional, deliberate (6) |
| Drugs | For example, drug, narcotic, high, hallucinating, drug-fueled (7) |
| Religion | Muslim, Christian, religious, religion (4) |
| Other | For example, paranoid, killer, chilling, violence, murder, dispute, teen, neighbor, retaliation, kid (15) |