TOPEKA (KSNT) – In the hours following a fatal double shooting in Roanoke, Va. information about the shooter and his anger came to light.
Vester Lee Flanagan was a former employee at WDBJ. He was fired two years ago and the former news director said in interviews with national media police were called to escort him out.
Kristina Dietrick, the president of Topeka’s Creative Business Solutions, said workplace violence is rare and there are no overarching, tell-tale signs of potential violent behavior.
But she did say to trust your gut.
“Intuition is a good thing,” she said. “Everybody has different stressors and if you are a regular employee or peer of this individual and you see something different that’s probably the biggest red flag.”
Dietrick also said knowing your company’s personal policies is an important first step. She also recommends not being complacent.
“I’ve seen in my employment past were people think well that’s just Bob or that’s just Betty, that’s just them and it gets out of hand,” she said.
In the past 10 years, according to Dietrick, she has seen an increased number of companies offer mental health services to their employees. But, she said, it’s up to the employees to take advantage of those services.
“The other thing you have to do is act. You have to do something about it,” she said.