This is not simply a ‘character flaw’. This is yet another example, IMHO, of the absolute inadequacy of our mental health institutions (of all kinds) in being able to recognize serious mental illness that is a threat. I am not blaming his mother, but I also believe that broken families almost always have some effect on the children. This is not an excuse in any way for what he did, but this is so tragic it goes way beyond just a character flaw.
I do understand what you mean, however, and when I looked at some of the social media ‘connections’ that one of his friends had posted, the lack of innocence and the ‘low life’ characteristics of these young lives was very disheartening and disturbing.
I know nothing about this killer’s mother, but no matter how good a mother someone is, once the child is an adult, there is NOTHING a parent can do. Sure, call the authorities, maybe get a 72 hour hold. If the person hasn’t actually done anything he can’t be locked up.
There is a lot we could do better with our mentally ill and unfit. We could save lives. Gun control doesn’t do a damned thing. The evildoers don’t need to obey laws to get guns. They are going to die in a hail of cop bullets anyway; why should they read the rules about illegal guns?
I too looked at the 2 pictures of his connections and then I looked at his connections connections and they looked like trashy misfits very odd pretty scary.