Could Ariz. shooting have been prevented?

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SALT LAKE CITY -- The Arizona shooting that killed six and critically injured a local congresswoman has raised many questions. Some even wonder if the crime could have been prevented.

"Thankfully, in the United States we live in a fairly safe society. These are not the norm occurring, but it does happen," says Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank.

There are so many people out there in the world who are dealing with, not only mental health issues, but just issues in general.

–Chris Burbank, SLC police chief

Friends describe the shooter, 22-year-old Jared Loughner, as an angry, social outcast who mistrusted government. But are those the characteristics of a killer?

"There are so many people out there in the world who are dealing with, not only mental health issues, but just issues in general," Burbank says.

Whether anyone could have predicted the shooting is difficult to answer, even for those in law enforcement. Burbank says the issues people deal with can manifest in unpredictable ways.

"The first chance they really come up and are noticeable is when they are in the middle of an act, like that occurred in Arizona," Burbank says.

He pointed to the 2007 shooting at Trolley Square, saying no one saw it coming.

Burbank also says he and his officers often receive threats, and they investigate each one.

But David Lundberg, a former police sergeant and private investigator with Utahdetective.com, says if someone wants to commit a crime, there's not a lot that can be done.

"There's an old saying that anybody can be gotten to, including the president. That's very true," Lundberg says.

He says law enforcement's hands are tied unless a plausible threat is made.

"Unfortunately, it might come down to the fact in this country where we have to put up metal detectors in every kind of event like this, unfortunately, just to try and stop these people," Lundberg says.

Burbank says his agency checks out all threats and makes contact with the person behind them. He says people should be cautious, not paranoid.

Lundberg says there are some red flags to look for, though.

"An isolated individual," he says. "They almost look like they have a bubble around them. They're focused on what they want to do. They're not happy. They may be nervous or jittery."

Burbank says when officers respond to concerns people have about family members they can provide information on resources available for help.

E-mail: syi@ksl.com