Isla Vista attacks copycat crimes

Snyder Hall, the scene of the Umpqua Community College shooting in Roseburg, Oregon, United States

The Isla Vista attacks, perpetrated by Elliot Rodger in Isla Vista, California, United States in 2014, was the first incel-motivated terrorist attack in history and have since inspired similar acts of violence.[1][2][3][4][5]

In the years since, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has documented dozens of incidents involving Rodger-inspired incel and misogynist violence and plots, which have collectively resulted in more than 100 deaths and injuries worldwide.[1] Notable attacks inspired by Rodger include the 2015 Umpqua Community College shooting,[6] the 2018 Parkland high school shooting,[7] 2018 Toronto van attack,[8] and the 2023 Allen, Texas, mall shooting.[9]

Background

Incels

This section is an excerpt from Incel.[edit]

An incel (/ˈɪnsɛl/ ⓘ IN-sel; an abbreviation of "involuntarily celibate"[10][11][12]), is a member of an online subculture of mostly male and heterosexual[13] people who define themselves as unable to find a romantic or sexual partner despite desiring one.[14][15][16] The incel subculture came to wider public attention in the 2010s with the banning of controversial subreddit r/incels and a series of mass murders committed by men who either identified as incels or held similar ideologies, including Elliot Rodger and Alek Minassian.[17]

The incel subculture's online discourse is characterized by social rejection, social isolation,[18] resentment, hostile sexism, anti-feminism, sexual objectification and dehumanization of women, misogyny, misanthropy, self-pity and self-loathing, racism, a sense of entitlement to sex, nihilism, rape culture, and the endorsement of sexual and non-sexual violence against women and the sexually active.[19][20][21][22][23][24] Incels tend to blame both women and the feminist movement for their inability to find a partner.[25][26] They often attribute their romantic failures to biological determinism and hypergamy, where women are said to have an innate and unchangeable preference for mating with high-status males (nicknamed "Chads").[27][25][28] Classified as part of the manosphere, an online association of anti-feminist and male supremacist groups that includes incels along with men's rights activists (MRAs), men going their own way (MGTOW) and pick-up artists (PUAs),[29] most incels identify with the "black pill",[30] a more nihilistic version of the manosphere's belief in the "red pill" that argues men are an oppressed group in a society dominated by feminism.[25][31][32] The "black pill" refers to the fatalistic belief[33][34] that the heterosexual dating market, and society in general, exist primarily to benefit women and physically attractive "alpha males".[25] Incels believe it is impossible for unattractive men to escape this social hierarchy.[35]

Isla Vista attacks

On the evening of May 23, 2014, multiple misogynistic terrorist attacks occurred in Isla Vista, California, United States. Elliot Rodger murdered six people and injured 14 others by gunshot, stabbing, and vehicle ramming near the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), before fatally shooting himself after a being wounded in a shootout with the police.[36] In the wake of the attacks, several news outlets suppressed the "Retribution" video uploaded by Rodger out of fear for triggering copycat crimes.[37][38]

In 2020, the BBC described Rodger as "the founding father of the incel ideology".[39] Some members of the incel community have celebrated Rodger's attacks with tribute songs, merchandise featuring his image, and created memes depicting him in a religious manner.[3][2][40][41][42] Some users refer to him as a "saint" and mark the anniversary of the killings as "Saint Elliot Day".[40][43][40][41] Within incel forums, his name was often abbreviated as "ER" and his attacks have been cited as an inspiration by individuals involved in or suspected of other acts of mass violence, sometimes described as "going ER"[44][45]

Sheriff Bill Brown said that Rodger's actions and copycat attacks were due to shortcomings in the mental-health treatment system, noted a widespread shortfall in resources for community mental health care, and criticized inadequate communication from healthcare professionals regarding people who suffer from suicidal or homicidal thoughts.[46][47][48]

List of successful copycat crimes

Name Date Deaths Injuries Perpetrator Notes
2015 Umpqua Community College shooting October 1, 2015 10 (including the perpetrator) 8 Chris Harper-Mercer On October 1, 2015, 26-year-old Chris Harper-Mercer, killed nine people and injured eight others in a shooting at Umpqua Community College before killing himself.[49] Prior to the attack, Harper-Mercer referenced Rodger alongside other mass killers in a manifesto, describing them as "people who are elite, people who stand with the gods".[6][50]
2017 Aztec High School shooting December 7, 2017 3 (including the perpetrator) 0 William Atchison On December 7, 2017, 21-year-old William Atchison, killed two people before killing himself in a shooting at Aztec High School, which he formerly attended, in Aztec, New Mexico. The shooting was described by some as an instance of incel violence.[51][52] Atchison had used the name "Elliot Rodger" online and had praised him as the "supreme gentleman",[53][54][52] though it was later described as "unclear" if Atchison identified as an incel.[55]
Parkland high school shooting February 14, 2018 17 17 Nikolas Cruz On February 14, 2018, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, killed seventeen people and injured seventeen others, in a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Cruz had previously posted online that "Elliot Rodger will not be forgotten".[7][5]
2018 Toronto van attack April 23, 2018 11 15 Alek Minassian On April 23, 2018, 25-year-old Alek Minassian, killed eleven people and injured fifteen others in a vehicle-ramming attack in North York City Centre, Toronto, Canada. Before the attack, Minassian posted a message on Facebook referencing an "Incel Rebellion" and praising Rodger.[56][8]
2018 Toronto shooting July 22, 2018 3 (including the perpetrator) 13 Faisal Hussain On July 22, 2018, 29-year-old Faisal Hussain, killed 2 and injured 13 in a shooting in Greektown, Toronto, Canada before killing himself. Hussain's actions were believed to have been inspired by Rodger. Police later discovered copies of Rodger's manifesto on several of Hussain's devices.[57]
2018 Tallahassee shooting November 2, 2018 3 (including the perpetrator) 5 Scott Paul Beierle On November 2, 2018, a mass shooting occurred at Tallahassee Hot Yoga, a yoga studio located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. 40-year-old Scott Paul Beierle shot six women, two fatally, and pistol-whipped a man before killing himself.[58][59] YouTube videos posted by Beierle in 2014 showed that he identified as an incel and also sympathized with the Rodger.[60][61][62]
2020 Toronto machete attack February 24, 2020 1 2 (including the perpetrator) Oguzhan Sert On February 24, 2020, 17-year-old Oguzhan Sert, entered a spa with a machete and killed one woman while seriously injuring another; the incident ended when the second injured victim disarmed the perpetrator and stabbed him in the back, critically injuring him.[a] The perpetrator named Rodger as inspiration for the stabbing.[76]
2023 Allen, Texas, mall shooting May 6, 2023 9 (including the perpetrator) 7 Mauricio Martinez Garcia On May 6, 2023, 33-year-old Mauricio Martinez Garcia went on a spree shooting in a mall in Allen, Texas. Garcia killed eight people and injured at least seven others before he was killed by a police officer.[77] He praised the perpetrator the of Isla Vista attacks and identified himself as an incel.[9]
2026 Fagersta school stabbing August 21, 2026 1 3 Liam Nebel[78] On 21 August 2026, an 18-year-old man armed with a sword attacked Brinellskolan in Fagersta, Västmanland County, Sweden.[79] As police investigated, they found a 17-year-old girl dead and three others injured.[80][81][82] Two hours before carrying out the attack, the suspect reposted a video about bullying on TikTok, the video showed Rodger.[83]

List of unsuccessful copycat crimes

Date (of arrest) Perpetrator Notes
May 21, 2024 Alexandre G. On May 21, 2024, French authorities arrested Alexandre G., a French national, over suspicions that he was preparing a violent attack connected to the Olympic torch relay ceremony scheduled in Bordeaux, France. Prosecutors said that he made concerning remarks about the upcoming tenth anniversary of the Isla Vista attacks of May 23, 2014. Investigators subsequently identified his connections to online incel communities. During his detention, Alexandre allegedly told investigators that he had contemplated carrying out an attack.[84]
October 22, 2023 Michael Pengchung Lee On October 22, 2023, Michael Pengchung Lee was arrested in Arizona.[85] Lee, who described himself as a "former incel", pled guilty on April 12th, 2024, for threatening to commit a Rodger-inspired mass shooting on the University of Arizona campus.[86][87]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "How Racist Misogyny Shapes Online Male Supremacist Communities". Southern Poverty Law Center. 2024-05-23. Retrieved 2026-08-18. The violence in Isla Vista was the first misogynist "incel" (involuntary celibate) terror attack, and it continues to serve as a blueprint for similar violence. In the years since, law enforcement officials have disrupted copycat attacks planned to commemorate the anniversary. The Anti-Defamation League has documented dozens of incidents of incel violence and plots, which have cumulatively resulted in over 100 deaths and injuries worldwide. In addition to many acts of mass violence, high-profile arrests have highlighted the involvement of misogynist incels in incidents of aggravated stalking, murder and bomb threats.
  2. 1 2 Lorenz, Taylor (2022-09-22). "The online incel movement is getting more violent and extreme, report says". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  3. 1 2 Staff, VICE (2022-05-31). "Killer Incels: How Misogynistic Men Sparked a New Terror Threat". VICE. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  4. ↑ Lyon, Rivy (2024-07-13). "Elliot Rodger, The 'Incel' Who Killed Six People Because He Was Angry That He'd Never Kissed A Girl". All That's Interesting. Retrieved 2026-08-18. Perhaps most disturbingly of all, the 2014 Isla Vista killings sparked several copycat attacks by men who hailed Rodger as an "incel hero."
  5. 1 2 "Incels (Involuntary celibates) | ADL". www.adl.org. Retrieved 2026-08-19. Rodger has become a macabre idol, the "Supreme Gentleman", for later violent incel perpetrators and is celebrated in online incel spaces.
  6. 1 2 Anderson, Rick (September 23, 2017). "'Here I am, 26, with no friends, no job, no girlfriend': Shooter's manifesto offers clues to 2015 Oregon college rampage". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 24, 2017. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  7. 1 2 "The Incel Killer and the Threat to the Campus Community | 2019-03-12 | Security Magazine". www.securitymagazine.com. Retrieved 2026-08-18. February 14, 2018. Nikolas Cruz killed 17 people and injured 17 others in a shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. before being arrested. Cruz had previously posted online that "Elliot Rodger will not be forgotten."
  8. 1 2 Bacon, John (April 25, 2018). "Incel: What it is and why Alek Minassian praised Elliot Rodger". USA Today. Archived from the original on April 25, 2018. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  9. 1 2 Ebrahimji, Alisha; Tolan, Casey; Murphy, Paul P.; Devine, Curt; Campbell, Josh (May 8, 2023). "What we know about the North Texas outlet mall gunman and his online posts". CNN. Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  10. ↑ Halpin, Michael; Richard, Norann; Preston, Kayla; Gosse, Meghan; Maguire, Finlay (2023). "Men who hate women: The misogyny of involuntarily celibate men". New Media & Society. 27 (1): 424–442. doi:10.1177/14614448231176777. ISSN 1461-7315. PMC 11661939. PMID 39711688.
  11. ↑ Preston, Kayla; Halpin, Michael; Maguire, Finlay (2021). "The Black Pill: New Technology and the Male Supremacy of Involuntarily Celibate Men". Men and Masculinities. 24 (5): 823–841. doi:10.1177/1097184X211017954. ISSN 1097-184X. PMC 8600582. PMID 34803370.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
  12. ↑ Beever, Jonathan; McDaniel, Rudy; Stanlick, Nancy A. (2019). Understanding Digital Ethics: Cases and Contexts. London: Routledge. p. 20. doi:10.4324/9781315282138. ISBN 978-1-315-28213-8. OCLC 1123184308 – via Google Books. imagine a self-described 'incel' (the self-assigned abbreviation for 'involuntarily celibate' individuals (usually men) who hold morally abhorrent views toward the opposite sex)
  13. ↑
  14. ↑ Beauchamp, Zack (April 25, 2018). "Incel, the misogynist ideology that inspired the deadly Toronto attack, explained". Vox. New York City: Vox Media. Archived from the original on May 5, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  15. ↑ Taub, Amanda (May 9, 2018). "On Social Media's Fringes, Growing Extremism Targets Women". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 14, 2018.
  16. ↑ Mezzofiore, Gianluca (April 25, 2018). "The Toronto suspect apparently posted about an 'incel rebellion.' Here's what that means". Atlanta, Georgia: CNN. Archived from the original on April 26, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Elliot Rodger: How misogynist killer became 'incel hero'". BBC News. April 25, 2018. Archived from the original on May 12, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  18. ↑ Sparks, Brandon; Zidenberg, Alexandra M.; Olver, Mark E. (2024). "One is the loneliest number: Involuntary celibacy (incel), mental health, and loneliness". Current Psychology. 43 (1): 392–406. doi:10.1007/s12144-023-04275-z. ISSN 1936-4733.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
  19. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Incel themes was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ↑ "Incels (Involuntary celibates) | ADL". www.adl.org. Retrieved 2026-08-23.
  21. ↑ Kaitlyn Regehr. "In(cel)doctrination: How Technologically Facilitated Misogyny Moves Violence off Screens and on to Streets" (PDF).
  22. ↑ A Project of the Democracy & Belonging Forum and Over Zero Authors Míriam Juan-Torres, Laura Livingston, and Tara Chandra. "A Six-Strategy Framework Examining How Political and Cultural Leaders Weaponize Gender in Ways that Advance Authoritarianism" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. ↑ Shana MacDonald, Brianna I. Wiens, Nick Ruest, Karmvir K. Padda. ""All you have to do is publicly execute a few women who have lied": Mapping the State of Online Misogyny and the Labor of Feminist Digital Counterprotest Within the Post-Pandemic Landscape"".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ↑ Miren Gutierrez. "Women, Politics, and Communication: The Discourses of Antifeminism and Misogyny in Europe Introduction".
  25. 1 2 3 4 Cite error: The named reference Lindsay 2022 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  26. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Scaptura 2019 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  27. ↑ Kennedy-Kollar, Deniese (2024). "Involuntary Celibates (Incels)". Extremism and Radicalization in the Manosphere: Beta Uprising. Routledge Studies in Crime and Society. New York: Routledge. pp. 71–72. doi:10.4324/9781032631080-7. ISBN 978-1-040-03920-5.
  28. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Hoffman 2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  29. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Solea 2023 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  30. ↑ Sugiura (2021), p. 9.
  31. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Hodapp xvi was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  32. ↑ Sugiura (2021), p. 23.
  33. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Gheorghe 2024 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  34. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Preston 2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  35. ↑ Cite error: The named reference hierarchy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  36. ↑ Staff, Indy (2015-02-20). "Elliot Rodger Report Details Long Struggle with Mental Illness". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  37. ↑ Grove, Lloyd (May 27, 2014). "Should TV News Show Elliot Rodger's Video?". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on July 1, 2023. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  38. ↑ Klein, Ezra (May 25, 2014). "Mass murderers want glory and fame. Somehow, we need to stop giving it to them". Vox. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  39. ↑ "Gabrielle Friel: Terror accused 'idolised' Californian spree killer". 2020-12-14. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
  40. 1 2 3 Futrelle, David (2018-04-27). "When a Mass Murderer Has a Cult Following". The Cut. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  41. 1 2 "How Elliot Rodger went from misfit mass murderer to 'saint' for group of misogynists — and suspected Toronto killer". Los Angeles Times. 2018-04-26. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  42. ↑ "Elliot Rodger: How misogynist killer became 'incel hero'". 2018-04-25. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  43. ↑ April 27, Stassa Edwards |; 2018 | 4:40pm. "Saint Elliot Rodger and the 'Incels' Who Canonize Him". Jezebel. Retrieved 2026-08-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  44. ↑ "Male Supremacist Terrorism as a Rising Threat". International Centre for Counter-Terrorism - ICCT. Retrieved 2026-08-18. "Going ER" [Elliot Rodger] has become incel slang for mass violence. The references to Rodger by incel mass killers that have followed over the past five years indicates that they are following in his footsteps, as he had hoped. On one forum, Rodger posted, "If we can't solve our problems we must DESTROY our problems…One day incels will realise their true strength and numbers, and will overthrow this oppressive feminist system. Start envisioning a world where WOMEN FEAR YOU."
  45. ↑ "Incels (Involuntary celibates) | ADL". www.adl.org. Retrieved 2026-08-18. ER (also known as "going ER"): A reference to Elliot Rodger, an incel who committed mass murder in Santa Barbara, California in 2014. Prior to the shooting, Rodger wrote an angry manifesto blaming women for rejecting him. "Going ER" refers to the act of committing mass murder, as inspired by Rodger.
  46. ↑ Carroll, Rory; Pengelly, Martin (May 25, 2014). "Sheriff highlights mental-health shortcomings after California killings". The Guardian. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  47. ↑ G. Fitzsimmons, Emma; Knowlton, Brian (May 25, 2014). "Gunman Covered Up Risks He Posed, Sheriff Says". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 22, 2023. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  48. ↑ Kaplan, Rebecca (May 25, 2014). "Sheriff: Elliot Rodger long concealed mental health issues". CBS News. Archived from the original on October 5, 2024. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  49. ↑ Schmidt, Brad (September 9, 2017). "UCC mass shooting: Killer 'angry at the world,' mom told detectives". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on August 7, 2019. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  50. ↑ www.express.co.uk https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/609715/Christopher-Harper-Mercer-Elliot-Roger-copycat-killing-spree. Retrieved 2026-08-29. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  51. ↑ Richter, Gregory; Richter, Ariana (2019-03-12). "The incel killer and the threat to the campus community". Security. Newton. ISSN 2329-1443. Archived from the original on 2019-03-14. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  52. 1 2 Hoffman, Ware & Shapiro 2020, p. 571.
  53. ↑ "Incels (Involuntary celibates) | ADL". www.adl.org. Retrieved 2026-08-19. Atchison killed two students at Aztec High School before turning the gun on himself. His online activity included a variety of far right ideological content and references to Elliot Rodger, praising Rodger's 2014 attack.
  54. ↑ Kennedy-Kollar 2024, p. 90.
  55. ↑ Sugiura 2021, p. 84.
  56. ↑ Hudson, Laura (April 25, 2018). "The internet is enabling a community of men who want to kill women. They need to be stopped". The Verge. Archived from the original on August 12, 2018. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  57. ↑ "Toronto Danforth mass shooter's long dark obsession with death, violence and 'incel' ideology". National Post.
  58. ↑ Kesbeh, Dina (November 3, 2018). "Gunman Kills 2, Wounds 5 Others At Florida Yoga Studio". NPR.org. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  59. ↑ Gathright, Jenny (November 4, 2018). "Gunman In Yoga Studio Attack Had A Criminal History, Posted Racist And Sexist Videos". NPR.org. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  60. ↑ Mack, David; Jamieson, Amber; Reinstein, Julia (November 3, 2018). "The Tallahassee Yoga Shooter Was A Misogynist Who Railed Against Women and Minorities Online". Buzzfeed News.
  61. ↑ Fineout, Gary (2018-11-04). "Yoga shooter appeared to have made misogynistic videos". AP News. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  62. ↑ Zaveri, Mihir; Jacobs, Julia; Mervosh, Sarah (November 3, 2018). "Gunman in Yoga Studio Shooting Recorded Misogynistic Videos and Faced Battery Charges". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  63. ↑ Bell, Stewart; Russell, Andrew; McDonald, Catherine (19 May 2020). "Deadly attack at Toronto erotic spa was incel terrorism, police allege". globalnews.ca. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  64. ↑ Nassar, Shanifa (14 Sep 2022). "Toronto spa killer pleads guilty to murder in deadly sword attack, cites van attacker as 'inspiration'". CBC.ca.
  65. ↑ Hasham, Alyshah (14 Sep 2022). "17-year-old spa killer said he was inspired by Toronto van attack, cited 'incel rebellion'". Toronto Star.
  66. ↑ Mandel, Michele (14 Sep 2022). "MANDEL: Guilty plea in alleged incel-inspired sword attack on Toronto spa worker". Toronto Sun.
  67. ↑ Golding, Janice (25 Feb 2020). "Teen charged in fatal stabbing at Downsview massage parlour; victim identified". CP24.
  68. ↑ Connor, Kevin (February 26, 2020). "Spa murder victim a 'kind, loving' mom of one..." Toronto Sun. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  69. ↑ O'Brien, Abby (2023-06-06). "Toronto massage parlour murder was act of terrorism, court finds in 'historical decision'". CTVNews. Retrieved 2026-04-30.
  70. ↑ Loriggio, Paola (November 28, 2023). "Man who pleaded guilty in incel-inspired Toronto murder sentenced to life in prison". CBC News. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  71. ↑ Westoll, Nick (25 February 2020). "17-year-old charged with 1st-degree murder after stabbing at Toronto massage parlour". globalnews.ca. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  72. ↑ Bell, Stewart; Russell, Andrew; McDonald, Catherine (19 May 2020). "Deadly attack at Toronto erotic spa was incel terrorism, police allege". globalnews.ca. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  73. ↑ Bolsvert, Nick (19 May 2020). "Homicide at Toronto massage parlour was an act of incel terrorism, police say". CBC.ca. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  74. ↑ Herhalt, Chris (19 May 2020). "Massage parlour stabbing was act of 'incel' terrorism: RCMP". CP24. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  75. ↑ D'andrea, Aaron (28 Feb 2020). "Murder at 'erotic' North York spa prompts safety cries from advocates". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  76. ↑ Hall, Lana (2024-04-03). "The Incel Terrorist". Macleans.ca. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  77. ↑ Tolan, Casey; Murphy, Paul P.; Devine, Curt; Campbell, Josh; Ebrahimji, Alisha (May 8, 2023). "What we know about the North Texas outlet mall gunman and his online posts". CNN. Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  78. ↑ Bengtsson, TextOlle (2026-08-23). "Liam Nebel, 18, häktad misstänkt för skoldådet i Fagersta". DN.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 2026-08-24. The 18-year-old man [Liam Nebel] was detained on Sunday by the Västmanland district court, the Public Prosecutor's Office announces. He is suspected on probable cause, which is the higher degree of suspicion.
  79. ↑ Zangana, Beri; Aprea, Matilda; Thornéus, Ebba (2026-08-22). "18-åringen i förhör – "hade velat döda fler"". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 2026-08-23.
  80. ↑ Associated Press (August 22, 2026). "Victim of sword attack at Swedish school was a 17-year-old girl". ABC News. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  81. ↑ Staff, Al Jazeera. "One killed, three injured in sword attack at school in Sweden". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
  82. ↑ Agency, TT News (2026-08-22). "17-year-old girl killed in Fagersta school attack, suspect was student". Sweden Herald. Retrieved 2026-08-23. The dead girl was found when police entered the school to secure the premises, but police have not been willing to provide any details about the deceased.
  83. ↑ Hamdan, Saga SkovdahlInas (2026-08-23). "Mordmisstänkte Liam Nebels sista tid innan svärdattacken • Skola och Roblox". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 2026-08-24. At 12 o'clock, i.e. two hours before the attack, Liam Nebel republished a post about bullying on Tiktok. The picture shows "incel hero" Elliot Rodger, who murdered six people in Isla Vista, California in 2014.
  84. ↑ "Incels (Involuntary celibates)". Anti-Defamation League. Retrieved 2026-08-20. On May 21, 2024, French citizen Alexandre G. was arrested by French law enforcement on suspicion of planning a violent attack during the May 2024 Olympic torch relay ceremony in Bordeaux, France. According to prosecutors, Alexandre allegedly made concerning remarks alluding to the upcoming 10th anniversary of the Isla Vista, CA killings, which occurred on May 23rd, 2014, that resulted in heightened attention from law enforcement. Upon his arrest, police investigators discovered multiple ties to online incel groups, and while in custody, Alexandre later allegedly admitted to "consider[ing] committing an act."
  85. ↑ "United States of America v. Michael Pengchung Lee" (PDF). On October 23,2023, a traffic stop for speeding was conducted on LEE. Post-Miranda, LEE admitted to being the author of the snapchat threats. LEE stated he was frustrated with his homelife and decided to "vent" to the group chat with his friends. He stated he was a former member of the incel community but was no longer. He attempted to purchase a firearm two months ago but decided against it. LEE admitted he was aware the threats to commit a mass shooting were wrong and concerning.
  86. ↑ "Incels (Involuntary celibates) | ADL". www.adl.org. Retrieved 2026-08-20. Michael Pengchung Lee, who described himself as a "former incel", pled guilty on April 12th, 2024, to threatening to commit a mass shooting on the University of Arizona campus. According to court documents, Lee admitted to posting threatening messages on Snapchat after being stopped for speeding in front of the university's Greek Row. Lee's threats allegedly included utilizing an AR-15 style assault rifle to "get revenge on all the chads and stacies [sic]" and planning to commit his attacks on the 10th anniversary of Elliot Rodger's infamous murders.
  87. ↑ "United States of America v. Michael Pengchung Lee" (PDF). LEE went on to say, "The day of Retribution is upon us, I shall get revenge on all the chads and stacies!!" (suspected by agents to mean Fraternity and Sorority members). When he saw the females in the group chat screenshotting his posts he stated "fuck you stacies I was gonna give u a warning but now im not". LEE went on to state, "my alleged crimes? 1m gonna commit a much worse crime .... Youll hear about it on the news". LEE further stated, "It's a solo mission, I'm not normal, I never have been, I'm severely autistic and mentally ill and was never accepted by society, I have no place in the world". - LEE then told the group as a fmal message: "also the 10th anniversary of the day of retribution is may 23,2024 btw, but isn't the UofA gonna be out of session by then?" Agents know that "the day of retribution" refers to the mass shooter Elliott Rogers, who killed sorority and fraternity members in 2014 and was a self-identified involuntary celibate (incel). On Michael Lee's Instagram page, he identifies as a former incel. LEE's reference to "chads" and "stacies" in earlier Snapchat messages are commonly used terms by incels.

Notes

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