I don’t think that not having a Dad at home is the primary reason in all cases when these boys rampage.
I kind of think in this case, it did play a role. This kid obviously had mental problems before his parents divorced. But the divorce did cause a separation, Mom and Dad in different cities. This kid may have felt abandonment by his Dad, and therefore latched on to his mother even stronger. I have heard reports that he was upset with her for the time she was spending as an aide at the school with little kids. Sounds crazy, but in his mind, if he knew she was trying to have him committed to an institution, he was being thrown away by his mother too. This person was antsocial, but he was far from stupid.
He was obviously a very disturbed person most of his life. Add his age and hormones, the video games, the lack of friends to talk to, and I can see a pressure cooker ready to explode.
This in no way justifies or removes his guilt for this tragic nightmare. He committed a terrible crime.
Of course, I am just musing, but something transpired to set him off. He reportedly had never committed a crime before this.
I am reminded by this theory of a fellow with whom I once had a long term business relationship.
He was having a lot of problems with his oldest son. Real problems.
So he sent him to a shrink.
After so long a time, the shrink called the father in for a conference.
The shrink told him that he was traveling too much in relation to his business, which he owned and which operated nation wide, and that he needed to spend more time at home with the family.
So I asked him what was he going to do?
His reply was that he fired the shrink.
He said: “For all I know, I am the problem and staying home would make it worse.”
So no more than we know, we should have nothing to say on that subject.
Other than the father might have seen the wisdom of locking all of the guns up in a manner that was really secure, like finger print recognition gun safe, etc.
I have been personally involved in two matters similar but luckily not ending in murder...at least not yet.
And I can tell you that mothers find it very hard to admit that their child is really that bad.