NASRO Presentation Recap: Lessons Learned from the Averted School Violence Project

Lessons Learned from the Averted School Violence Project

At the 2025 NASRO National School Safety Conference, NASRO Executive Director Mo Canady joined Michele Gay, Founder and Executive Director of Safe and Sound Schools, to present an insightful session, “Preventing the Next Tragedy: Lessons Learned from Near Misses.” In this recap, we’ll explore key takeaways from their presentation, including a preview of enhancements to the ASV database and website, as well as a real-life case study that highlights the critical lessons drawn from this incredible resource. Register for access to the ASV database here!

What is the Averted School Violence Database?

In the years following the tragedy at Sandy Hook, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) convened a national advisory group to explore how future school shootings and acts of violence could be prevented. Among their most urgent recommendations: build a national repository of cases where school violence was stopped before it occurred.

That recommendation became the foundation for the Averted School Violence database. Launched in 2015 by the National Policing Institute with support from the DOJ, the ASV Database collected and analyzed real-world cases of planned school violence that were successfully prevented — providing invaluable insights to schools, law enforcement, and mental health professionals across the country.

In 2023, the ASV database found a new home with Safe and Sound Schools, becoming what we refer to now as the Averted School Violence Project. Together, with key partners like the Motorola Foundation and the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), we’re expanding the platform to make these stories more accessible and more impactful for those working on the front lines of school safety.

We believe that every averted act of school violence is more than just a near miss — it's an opportunity to improve the way we protect our school communities. While the ASV Project does include both averted and completed cases, the main goals are to highlight key lessons from these events and to help schools and communities create learning opportunities based on how others have stepped in, spoke up, or took action in time.

What is Averted School Violence?

Averted school violence is a planned violent attack that was prevented before any physical injury or loss of life occurred at the intended location. These incidents often involve preventative interventions such as:

• Restricting means such as firearms in the home

• Removing access to potential targets

• Reporting a plan overheard or discovered

• Providing mental health resources to an individual in crisis

Each of these interventions represents a critical opportunity to change the trajectory of a potential attack and save lives long before any harm is done.

The Value of the Averted School Violence Project

ASV provides a secure, access-controlled platform for school personnel, law enforcement officers, school resource officers (SROs), and mental health professionals to confidentially submit cases. Following a review process, cases are then published to the database where users can leverage these real-world examples to identify patterns in behavior, improve threat assessment and response, and develop more informed prevention strategies.

One such case submitted to the ASV database, highlights the critical role of vigilance, timely intervention, and trusted relationships in averting a potential tragedy.

Lessons Learned: A Real-Life Case Study from the ASV Database

In a suburban high school, a parent overheard two 16-year-old students discussing plans to "shoot up" the school in a manner "bigger than Columbine." The students detailed the types of firearms they intended to use and their effectiveness. Concerned, the parent took a photo of the students and shared it with the school resource officer (SRO).

Upon receiving the information, the SRO, in collaboration with local law enforcement, identified the students, and obtained consent to search their cell phones. The investigation revealed that the students had recently researched weapons and information about the Columbine tragedy. The students were arrested and charged with making criminal threats and conspiracy to commit a felony. Further searches of multiple locations yielded evidence that the students had conducted extensive online research on mass shootings, including the weapons needed and actions taken by previous school shooters. Although no firearms were found, the students appeared to be planning to acquire them for an attack.

This case highlights several key takeaways:

• The Importance of Community Vigilance and Trust: The parent's proactive approach in reporting the overheard conversation was instrumental in preventing a potential tragedy. This emphasizes the value of building trust within the school community, where parents feel comfortable speaking up, knowing their concerns will be heard and acted upon.

• The Role of the SROs and Relationship Building: The SRO's prompt response and collaboration with law enforcement and the school were crucial in identifying and intervening with the students involved. Strong, trusted relationships between SROs, students, and staff allow for timely intervention and create a safer, more responsive school environment.

• The Value of Thorough Investigation: The discovery of online research and detailed planning underscore the necessity of comprehensive, collaborative investigations in assessing threats.

By fostering a culture of trust, strengthening relationships, and committing to thorough investigation, schools can enhance their ability to prevent potential violence and create a safer environment for all students.

Coming Soon: The Enhanced ASV Database and Website

The ASV Project aims to serve as a vital resource for school safety planning teams and SROs. To further enhance the utility of and impact of the database in practice, our goals include:

• Providing Real-World Case Studies: Access to detailed reports of averted incidents helps teams understand the complexities of potential threats and the effectiveness of various interventions.

• Facilitating Future Training and Preparedness: Our team is working to develop case studies that can be used in tabletop exercises to simulate scenarios, allowing teams to practice responses and refine their strategies.

• Encouraging Collaboration: The project promotes communication and coordination among school staff, law enforcement, and mental health professionals, fostering a unified approach to school safety.

Soon, a fully revamped website and optimized database with increased functionality will reinforce our dedication to these goals. We truly hope that you will use it, contribute to it, and help us protect every school, every student, and every future through the power of prevention.

Register for access to the ASV database here!

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Continued funding to maintain and expand the Averted School Violence Project is provided by the Motorola Solutions Foundation. The National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) and Safe and Sound Schools’ national community of school safety practitioners support the important work, and we appreciate your contributions to the future of prevention and school safety.