The questions are based on false assumptions. First I see no facts to back an estimate of $20K in weaponry. An AR-15, a shotgun, a couple of pistols, magazines, surplus body-armor and gas-mask, and ammunition (including that used in the shooting and the booby traps probably cost $5K tops. (Sophisticated? really? A trip-wire-triggered gun-powder, flammable liquids and loose ammunition room-sized IED is sophisticated?)
A grad student who got an NIH grant could easily have a spare $5K — even without that, science grad students generally get paid full tuition plus a stipend as TAs or research assistants and can take out fat student loans if they feel short of cash, so even though he was dropping out, he probably had leftover money from his
first year in grad school.
Generally folks who even make it into doctoral programs in the sciences (esp. ones which are ‘hot’ like neuroscience and therefore have lots of applicants) are really smart, that and the internet will get you the training to do a hell of a lot of stuff without anyone backing you.
Personally, I suspect he’ll turn out to be schizophrenic (early to mid 20’s is typical time for onset) and his dropping out and going on the murder spree were both occasioned by insanity, which, alas, didn’t rob him of his intelligence and ability to plan.
All he had to do was go to an estate auction to find all that stuff ~ cheap!
Having had a lot of experience with a mentally ill family member, a lot of the time their actions “don’t add up”. Their logic defies any rational explanation.
Just because they are mentally ill, doesn’t mean they can’t be smart. They can be extremely cunning and capable.
IMHO, the tear gas, mask, and armor betray his motives.
He began acquiring the weapons a couple of months ago.
He might not have fully thought things out until about a month ago.
If he simply wanted to kill alot of people, he probably could have picked easier forums to conduct that activity.
I suspect he had watched too many movies, like the Bourne series, or other vigilante films, thinking he could create hysteria, smoke, and SWAT response, then simply walk out in the mayhem without being challenged by appearing to be a first responder.
When things didn’t go fully the way he intended he simply surrendered. I suspect it was just for notoriety or publicity, but no intention of being threatened himself.
Fully premeditated with an intention to live through the event, possibly escaping in the mayhem.
Nailed it.
Looks like less likely schizophrenic, more likely Occupy Wall Street Black Bloc member. Google it.