Date

10-14-2026

Department

Helms School of Government

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice (PhD)

Chair

Carl Miedich

Keywords

Active killer, Routine Activity Theory, Grounded Theory, Soft targets

Disciplines

Leadership Studies

Abstract

The purpose of this grounded theory (GT) study was to develop and understand the training and prevention tactics used in defending the church against active killer violence. Exploring the Routine Activity Theory (RAT) developed by Cohen and Felson (1979) in relation to active killer violence aimed to contribute significantly to building a more robust understanding of related problems associated with active killer violence in the world today in terms of a motivated offender, suitable target, and a lack of a capable guardian. The central phenomenon of this GT study focused on the understanding of the lethal threat from active killer violence against a church in northeast Kansas. This study offers churches of all sizes the opportunity to replicate the exploration and themes gathered from the study. The ability to gain an understanding of the pathway to violence model (PTVM) provides a collective method of steps that, if understood and deployed correctly, can prevent or significantly reduce the chance of the next Active Killer Event (AKE) from occurring. This qualitative study included semi-structured interviews and a digital survey administered to church security team members and church leadership. The interviews were recorded on Microsoft Teams and analyzed with Microsoft Excel. This research aimed to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the threat from AKEs, highlighting the need for additional tactical training within the church.

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