After Shooting a Police Officer, A Man Turns to Facebook, then Kills Himself
By: Aaron Nolan
Updated: May 2, 2012
Early Wednesday morning Lance Duffy shot a Rogers police officer, before shooting and killing himself later that morning.
Prior to shooting himself, Duffy posted on facebook, "Like don't freak anybody but I just shot a cop....', last week Duffy also posted on facebook that he was suicidal.
These types of post are becoming more common as more people are turning to internet sites like facebook and twitter.
Fayetteville therapist, Dr. Amy Adams, said, "Social media has become increasingly important in our everyday lifestyle."
"A lot of facebook, or twitter, is people venting and kind of just making random thoughts or random statements. But sometimes there are very serious statements that are made."
Adams believes that if internet users see people possibly battling mental illness, they should try to help.
"As a social friend, or as their social network, they should try to do something to warn somebody if then can."
"I think the best response you can have is to support the person and say positive things, uplifting things."
While there are sometimes posts on social media sites that might make people uncomfortable, Adams knows this wave of technology could present an opportunity for folks to make a difference.
"It's useful in some ways, maybe it will give us the opportunity to know someone's inner thoughts, since they're almost journaling their feeling and their thoughts online, so we might actually have the ability to impact and interrupt something from happening that could be a catastrophe for a lot of people."
Prior to shooting himself, Duffy posted on facebook, "Like don't freak anybody but I just shot a cop....', last week Duffy also posted on facebook that he was suicidal.
These types of post are becoming more common as more people are turning to internet sites like facebook and twitter.
Fayetteville therapist, Dr. Amy Adams, said, "Social media has become increasingly important in our everyday lifestyle."
"A lot of facebook, or twitter, is people venting and kind of just making random thoughts or random statements. But sometimes there are very serious statements that are made."
Adams believes that if internet users see people possibly battling mental illness, they should try to help.
"As a social friend, or as their social network, they should try to do something to warn somebody if then can."
"I think the best response you can have is to support the person and say positive things, uplifting things."
While there are sometimes posts on social media sites that might make people uncomfortable, Adams knows this wave of technology could present an opportunity for folks to make a difference.
"It's useful in some ways, maybe it will give us the opportunity to know someone's inner thoughts, since they're almost journaling their feeling and their thoughts online, so we might actually have the ability to impact and interrupt something from happening that could be a catastrophe for a lot of people."
