Case Study: THE LONE WOLF KILLER By John Andrews Photo: Scott Morrison CounterThe 6 The Counter Terrorist ~ August/September 2009 CTAUGSEPT09.indd 6 6/16/09 1:49 PM Historically, the “lone wolf” terrorist has been a rarity in the United States. A “lone wolf” is a person who performs politically inspired terrorist acts without orders from or even connections to any type of organization.1 are politically, religiously, and/or hus, this definition would ideologically motivated; and second, Next, he bought a not include members of they make an effort not to get caught. guitar case in which ecoterrorist organizations such In recent years, the advent of the as the Earth Liberation Front Internet and numerous websites to carry the weapon, T(ELF), because even though the dedicated to explosives, firearms and he scouted the ELF lacks a formal structure, it is training, survivalist skills, surveillance nonetheless a loose confederation techniques, and radical ideology has area near one of the of people with similar goals and helped facilitate the creation of lone synagogues, locating modus operandi. On the other hand, wolf terrorists. However, even with a stand of bushes from the definition of lone wolf would the many resources available on the include individuals like Eric Rudolph Internet, the lone wolf may remain which he could fire from and Theodore Kaczynski, because a rarity. Terrorists seek a cause that without being seen. neither of these men were a part of or gives them emotional relief, social associated with any organization of community, and spiritual comfort. any kind. They are drawn to like-minded When discussing lone wolves, it people, and once among these people, may be valid to distinguish them from the intensity of their beliefs spirals individuals who commit terrorist acts upward in an apparent game of one- because they are mentally disturbed, upmanship with their comrades.2 as was the case with Virginia Tech In other words, the members of the shooter Seung-Hui Cho. Although terrorist group feed off one another. the lines may become blurry when This is not possible with the lone politically motivated attackers do wolf, who operates in a vacuum exhibit some degree of mental illness, with no support structure. It takes a for the purposes of this article, we certain type of individual to conduct will assume that lone wolves differ violent activities without any social from common “lone nuts” in two support. In addition, this individual ways: First, their violent actions has to possess the ability to conduct The Counter Terrorist ~ August/September 2009 7 CTAUGSEPT09.indd 7 6/16/09 1:49 PM FROM GET THIS FREE LAPOLICEGEAR.COM ©istockphoto.com/goose_v1 a successful attack, including the Of course, once an organization is knowledge required to build a bomb compromised, its leadership as well or fire a weapon accurately. Finally, as its rank and file are identified, and the lone wolf has to have certain street the organization may be destroyed. skills or tradecraft that allow him to Thus, as explained in Beam’s essay, the 3 escape once the act is complete. One only way for a radical organization individual who met of all these criteria to fight under these conditions is to was Joseph Paul Franklin. establish individual operators or small Although Louis Beam’s 1992 essay “phantom cells” that conduct the FREE 5.11 TDU BELT “Leaderless Resistance” was written actual struggle. In Beam’s words, “No WITH EVERY PAIR These actors cannot after Franklin committed his horrific one need issue an order to anyone. ($12.99 M.S.R.P) be infiltrated and will crimes, Franklin’s life closely followed Those truly committed…will act when therefore continue Beam’s description of those lone they feel the time is ripe, or will take wolves who were participating in the their cue from others who precede the armed struggle far right’s “revolutionary struggle.” In them… It becomes the responsibility 5.11 Tactical long after any related his essay, Beam described a process of the individual to acquire the Taclite Pro Pants involving a front group that eschews necessary skills and information as organizations have any illegal activities but provides to what is to be done.” As described SKU: 511-74273 been neutralized. direction for lone wolves through by Beam, these truly dedicated the dissemination of information individuals will do what is necessary WHEN YOU by means of newspapers, leaflets, without orders from or connections rallies, marches, and other organs to any organization. These actors of propaganda. (Remember, when cannot be infiltrated and will therefore Beam wrote his essay, the Internet continue the armed struggle long after BUY THESE was in its infancy, so its potential was any related organizations have been FREE 5.11 HAT unknown to him.) Beam recognized neutralized. that the government would be PLUS But was Joseph Paul Franklin in FREE SHIPPING $ .95 alerted to and would investigate fact among these “truly committed” any organizations that represented FREE RETURN SHIPPING 39 individuals? At one of Franklin’s trials, GET: With purchase of any two 5.11 Tactical clothing items. a threat. He also knew that the www.LAPoliceGear.com New York psychiatrist Dorothy Otnow Limited time offer, while supplies last. 866-793-1911 government would try to infiltrate Lewis testified that Franklin was a and neutralize these organizations. paranoid schizophrenic who exhibited 8 The Counter Terrorist ~ August/September 2009 www.LAPoliceGear.com CTAUGSEPT09.indd 8 6/16/09 1:49 PM delusional and confused thinking as a result of the brutal physical abuse he suffered as a child; she also pointed out that he still carried scars on his scalp from the blows that STRATEGIC were inflicted on him by his parents. In response to Lewis’s testimony, DEFENSE Franklin took the stand and testified that although he may have had a few INITIATIVE. minor neuroses, he was not insane, and he knew exactly what he was doing. This testimony was reminiscent of Franklin’s confession to police after he was arrested for a synagogue shooting in the St. Louis area. During that arrest, Franklin was asked whether he felt any remorse. After a long silence, Franklin responded, “I can’t say that I do. The only thing I’m sorry about is that it’s not legal.” When the detective asked what illegal action he was referring to, Franklin responded, “Killing Jews.”4 Indeed, the synagogue shooting in the fall of 1977 serves as a prime example of Franklin’s detailed planning. In his confession, Franklin explained that he bought his rifle in Dallas through a classified ad, thereby insuring no chance of a Maximum protection. Climate control. Customization. A PROTECH® Blast and Ballistic Resistant paper trail through a firearms dealer. Enclosure (BRE®) offers all that and more. And each is manufactured to the highest standards He then drove to St. Louis, looked of quality and ballistic conformance. up synagogues in the phone book, A PROTECH BRE is just one of many solutions offered by Safariland, renowned for its and filed the serial numbers off the commitment to saving lives and protecting assets. For complete information on our guard booths, guard towers, defensive fighting positions and custom solutions, contact us today. rifle. Next, he bought a guitar case in which to carry the weapon, and 800-733-3832 protecharmored.com he scouted the area near one of the ©2009 Safariland synagogues, locating a stand of bushes from which he could fire from without 145 being seen. Franklin then purchased Circle on Reader Service Card a bike, put it in his car, and rode the June Mission: June 19 - 27, 2009 bikeAugust to the Mission:predetermined August spot 19 in the- 29, 2009parking lot, and checked his police individual—a true lone wolf. bushes. Once there, he lay in wait for scanner to see whether he was being Franklin would later go on to several hours until people exited the chased. Finally, he exited the area via conduct a killing spree targeting synagogue, at which time he fired five Interstate 55.5 As these many steps African Americans and biracial shots. After that, Franklin rode the illustrate, this was a planned murder couples. This spree began in bike back to his car, pulled out of the carried out by an intelligent, rational Oklahoma City on a Sunday in The Counter Terrorist ~ August/September 2009 11 CTAUGSEPT09.indd 11 6/16/09 1:50 PM GIS—Providing The Geographic Advantage™ October 1979. On that day, Jesse and the example of jihadist lone wolf NOTES: for Homeland Security Marian Taylor, a mixed-race couple, Derrick Shareef. In 2006, Shareef, a 1 Burton, Fred, and Stewart, Scott, stopped at a supermarket on the way 22-year-old Muslim convert, decided “The Lone Wolf Disconnect,” Stratfor home from their children’s hula- he wanted to commit “violent jihad” Global Intelligence, January 30, 2008, hoop contest. As he returned to the against Americans. He prepared a http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/ parking lot with a bag of groceries, martyrdom video in case he didn’t lone_wolf_disconnect (accessed May Jesse was killed when he was hit by survive his attempt to do so, and he 6, 2009). three shots. Then, as his common-law even went through a purification 2 Andrews, John, “The Sociology wife Marian rushed to his side, she process that included shaving off his of Jihad,” The Counter Terrorist,July/ was fatally shot with a single round body hair. Shareef belonged to no August 2008. from a high-caliber rifle 75 yards away. organized group, nor did he receive 3 Burton and Scott, “The Lone The assassin (later determined to be funding from any outside source.