Assignment # 3
A 22-year-old Elliot Rodger, son of a British filmmaker Peter Rodger, on 23rd may 2014, killed six people and injured fourteen others in Isla Vista, California. He began the mass murdering by killing his three roommates in his apartment and then drove out and short random people. He exchanged gunfire with police twice. The riot ended when he shot himself to death while sitting in his car. It was a terrible incident which makes people wonder why a 22-year-old boy would do such a horrendous act.
The day before the rampage, he uploaded a YouTube video titled “Retribution.” This video can be taken as a source to find out the factors which lead him to commit this crime. There are different reasons for a person to commit a crime, depending upon the nature of the crime committed like social isolation, poverty, greed, bad company and alcohol and drug abuse. In the case of Elliot Rodger the reasons that he committed this crime was hatred for women. In his last video on YouTube, he expressed his dislike for women and exclaimed that women hate hem and he is still a virgin. It was the main reason for him committing the crime.
Early and personal life are also important factors which should be studied to find the factors accountable for shaping a criminal mind. Compiling different sources following elements are prominent which led him to commit this crime. Elliot was a shy guy, and he was always bullied in his school. At the age of 7, his parents got divorced. Rejection by girls in school and high school made him feel lonely and angry. He once said the more isolated I felt, the more upset I become. It can be concluded that social isolation is the primary factor which forced him to commit such heinous act.
