When it comes to explaining the psychology behind workplace shootings such as occurred this week in Santa Maria, experts say there are a few similarities and many differences for what sparks a deadly outburst.

“The people who engage in this behavior are not a homogenous group,” said Dr. Alex Yufik, a forensic psychologist from Los Angeles.

Speaking generally about incidents such as Tuesday's four fatal shootings at an auto salvage yard in Santa Maria, Yufik said those responsible for such workplace violence have different motives and different personalities.

“People are very complex,” he noted.

Lee Leeds, 31, entered his family's business Tuesday afternoon, grabbed a gun and shot his father, two coworkers and a customer, according to police. Family members confirmed Friday that Leeds was being treated for mental illness.

“In general terms, one of the more important factors is what was the person like before the shooting,” he said. “Did he have mental illness? Was he abusing or using drugs?”

Typically, mass shootings fall into two categories - planned or unplanned.

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“The planned one is more common,” Yufik said.

In planned incidents, shooters may stockpile weapons and carefully map out exactly what they intend to do, while unplanned shooters feel they don't have any alternatives, and their actions are much more sporadic.

Because of this, unplanned actions can be more dangerous, because they're not directed at a specific person, and the perpetrator typically is mentally unstable, he said.

Shooters in both types of incidents can be under the influence of illegal drugs, experts say.

Psychologists also look at environmental factors - someone who grew up where violence is prevalent may view violence as ordinary.

“For a person with that kind of background, it's easy for that person to engage in violence,” Yufik said.

While workplace shootings of several people are big tragedies that garner the biggest headlines, Dr. Park Dietz said only a small percentage involve multiple victims.

By comparison, about 750 workplace killings of one person occur annually, and 1.7 million assaults, robberies and rapes happen in the workplace.

Dietz is a forensic psychiatrist who leads a Newport Beach-based consulting business that for two decades has taught employers how to manage the workforce to improve performance and dismiss people in a way to avoid future violence.

In two other relatively recent Central Coast workplace shootings - at the Denny's in Pismo Beach and the U.S. Postal Distribution Center in Goleta - both shooters killed themselves. Police arrested Lee Leeds less than an hour after Tuesday's shooting.

That's not necessarily unusual, Dietz said.

“Fifty percent of shooting mass murderers are dead by the end of the day,” Dietz said. “All of them, as far as I've been able to tell so far, were prepared to die.”

He added that most have some form of depression, which can range from mild to serious. Additionally, adult shooters typically have a paranoid outlook - feeling cheated, harassed, picked on or even having psychotic delusions

“There are some warning signs that can help employers tell which of the current and former employees are most likely to do this, but the trouble is the warnings are not specific enough to predict this behavior,” Dietz said, noting that thousands may exhibit the symptoms, yet only a handfuls follow through and take action.

In Tuesday's shooting, Lee Leeds allegedly called a colleague and said he intended to commit violence.

Regarding how to assess when someone threatens a shooting, Yufik said the details provided in a warning can help assess validity.

“The more specific a threat is made, the more credible it likely is,” Yufik said, suggesting people take warnings seriously so police will be called to assess the situation.

Janene Scully can be reached at 739-2214 or janscully@santamariatimes.com

March 22, 2008