How Michael Carneal's peers influenced him in a murderous rampage

"I perceived my life as miserable. Nobody loved me and nobody cared." (1) This was a statement by Michael Carneal in his first interview at Kentucky State Reformatory. His high school peers influenced him greatly in this angry rampage. His belief that his peers did not respect him gave him a reason to steal a .22 caliber pistol and start going trigger-happy on an innocent prayer group. His peers constantly jeered at Carneal and even claimed that …

…acted on it. However, no one thought that he was capable or would act like this. None of the students said anything to officials' because of the fear of being wrong and looking stupid. School officials did not foresee the signs as being a serious threat and looked upon it as his personality. The misperception of Carneal by both school officials and peers lead to a traumatizing event that would be in their minds forever.