Reflections in Mass Murder Risk: Police Perceptions of Sociohistorical Change and Attitudes Toward Public Safety

This study examines police perceptions of mass killings targeting teenagers in China over the past decade, focusing on high‐profile vehicular assaults and knife attacks in school environments. Utilizing qualitative interviews with 52 police officers from three regions significantly impacted by these incidents, the analysis reveals previously underexplored dimensions of police cognition concerning sociohistorical transformations and their influence on public safety. Officers interpret youth victimization not merely as isolated acts of violence but as symptomatic of broader social anxieties stemming from rapid urbanization, economic inequality, and the erosion of traditional community structures. Rather than attributing vulnerability to individual adolescent behaviors, police perceptions emphasize how societal frustrations linked to economic downturns have positioned teenagers as symbolic targets for displaced aggression. Moreover, officers highlight social media's critical role in amplifying community fears, suggesting a cyclical pattern where negative online narratives exacerbate societal hostility toward adolescents. The findings underline the necessity for comprehensive, historically informed interventions that integrate socioeconomic reform, community engagement, and proactive digital governance into public safety strategies addressing youth‐targeted violence.