Mass Shooting in the US: Is it an epidemic?

Tuesday, March 17, 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Pathstone Latitude & Landing, 115 Rogers St., Mankato

The mass shooting at Columbine High School brought mass shootings to the attention of the media, and now it seems as though mass shootings are occurring all the time. We will examine mass shootings to explore the ideas behind who, what, where, when and why they occur, along with discussing the apparent increase in shootings.

Presenter:

Pat Nelson joined the Minneapolis Police Department in September 1997 and served as a patrol officer in the 4th precinct, along with a SWAT Crisis Negotiator and an academy instructor until she was promoted to sergeant in 2011. After being promoted to Sergeant, she served as a patrol sergeant in the 1st precinct, and as an investigator in Property Crimes, Robbery, Sex Crimes, and Crimes Against Children until she was medically retired in 2013 due to injuries after being hit by a drunk driver while on duty. Pat joined the Minnesota State University, Mankato Law Enforcement program in 2012 and is currently a tenured, full professor serving as the Department Chair for the Department of Criminal Justice and the Program Director for the Policing Studies Program, which is the largest 4-year Professional Peace Officer Education Program in the State of Minnesota. She teaches in areas such as Communication, Terrorism, Gangs, Mass Shootings, Political Violence, Criminal Law and Procedure, Women and Crime, Victimology, and Leadership. She has also served on the MN POST Board Advisory Rule Making Committee.

Sponsor:

• Steve Gilbert