Stop the Killing

The Uvalde Verdict: What the Decision Really Means The verdict is in. In this episode of Stop the Killing, former FBI executive and use-of-force expert Katherine Schweit breaks down the legal outcome of the Uvalde case — what the verdict establishes, what it doesn’t, and why accountability in cases like this is so often misunderstood. This is not reactionary commentary. It’s a clear-eyed explanati...

Nearly four years after the Uvalde school shooting, an unprecedented criminal trial is underway. In this episode of Stop the Killing Podcast, former FBI executive and prosecutor Katherine Schweit examines the prosecution of a responding officer charged with 29 felony counts of abandoning or endangering a child — not for what he did, but for what prosecutors argue he failed to do.  This fact-based...

🎧 UNDERSTANDING DEADLY FORCE — PART TWO Stop the Killing Podcast | S4E59 If you listened to last week’s bonus episode examining the Minnesota ICE agent shooting — where Katherine Schweit broke down the deadly force standard and whether it was lawful — and found yourself wanting to go deeper into how deadly force policies actually work, this episode is for you. This is Part Two of our Understandin...

🎧 Recommended Listening: Go Deeper on Deadly Force If you’ve just listened to our bonus episode —Minnesota ICE Shooting: Former FBI Agent Explains the Deadly Force Standard — Was It Lawful? —and want to dig deeper into how deadly force decisions are actually made, this episode is the perfect companion. To better understand the legal, psychological, and operational realities behind law enforcement...

In this episode of Stop the Killing Podcast, former FBI agent and prosecutor Katherine Schweit breaks down the fatal shooting of Renee Goode, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, by a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis. Rather than reacting to headlines or social media outrage, this episode focuses on one question only: Did the officer’s actions meet the legal standard for the...

In this bonus episode of Stop the Killing, Sarah shares why she felt compelled to release this previously recorded Thanksgiving episode today — after waking to the devastating news of the Bondi Beach shooting in Australia. Early reports indicate two gunmen — a father and son — opened fire on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration. Amid the terror, a civilian, Ahmed Al Ahmed, intervened and wrestled the gun...

🎧 NEW FROM SARAH FERRIS MEDIA CONmunity Podcast | Season Two: The BADmiral A $3.75 billion international search-and-rescue organisation. Admirals from around the globe. A mission that promised purpose — and pay. But what happens when the story doesn’t quite add up? From the creator of Stop the Killing and Klooghless: The Long Con, Sarah Ferris takes listeners on an 18-month global investigation t...

If you want the very latest updates on this case, head to Patreon or Apple Subscriptions — that’s where we’re posting breaking news episodes as soon as they happen. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @stopthekillingstories for updates and behind-the-scenes content. In this episode, retired FBI executive Katherine Schweit — former head of the Bureau’s Active Shooter Program — brings you the...

Subscriber Exclusive Early Access  In this special briefing, retired FBI executive Katherine Schweit — former head of the Bureau’s Active Shooter Program — brings her insider expertise to unpack the assassination of political commentator Charlie Kirk. Recorded just days after the Utah campus shooting, Katherine cuts through the noise of conspiracy theories and political spin to deliver verified fa...

In this clip, retired FBI executive Katherine Schweit — former head of the FBI’s Active Shooter Program — breaks down the disturbing messages the shooter sent after the attack. Katherine explains how these texts became central to the witness tampering and obstruction of justice charges, and why prosecutors place such weight on this kind of evidence when building a case. 🎧 The full episode is avai...

This week on Stop the Killing, we’re bringing you some rare and cautiously optimistic news. Former FBI agent Katherine Schweit breaks down the newly released FBI 2024 Active Shooter Report, and the headline is striking: 📉 A 50% decrease in active shooter incidents across the United States. But what does that really mean? Are prevention efforts working? And where are these incidents still happenin...

BONUS: BLOODSHED BADDIES x STOP THE KILLING In this bonus episode, we're sharing a conversation originally recorded for the Bloodshed Baddies podcast—where our very own Katherine Schweit joins Lex and Sam for an unfiltered, fascinating, and sometimes funny deep dive into her career and mission. From her early days in journalism to becoming the FBI’s top expert on active shooter response, Katherine...

Season 5 – BONUS 3: CANCER UPDATE, BOOK RELEASE, LIVERPOOL ATTACK This bonus episode of Stop the Killing is a deeply personal and powerful one. 🎧 Sarah shares her stage 4 cancer diagnosis and how she's navigating life on a new form of targeted therapy that’s giving her quality of life and a surprising amount of hope.📘 Katherine unveils her brand-new true crime book Women Who Talk to the Dead—an...

🎧 SEASON 5 BONUS 23 🎧 Valentine’s Day School Shooting Averted: The Tip That Stopped a Tragedy An 18-year-old student in Martinsville, Indiana, was arrested before carrying out a planned school shooting—thanks to one crucial tip. The shooter, who idolized past mass killers, had been plotting the attack for over a year, referring to it as “Parkland Part Two.” 🔎 How was the attack stopped before i...

BONUS EPISODE: SWEDEN’S DARK DAY 🔒 Exclusive for Subscribers – Public Release Tomorrow In this special breaking news episode, Stop the Killing co-host Katherine Schweit provides an update on a mass shooting that took place in Örebro, Sweden. This is the country’s deadliest mass shooting to date, and the community is now facing the difficult process of understanding what happened and supporting th...

SANDY HOOK PARENT’S FIGHT FOR SAFER SCHOOLS In this compelling season finale, we sit down with Michele Gay, co-founder of Safe and Sound Schools and mother to Josephine, one of the young victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Michele shares her personal journey of unimaginable loss, resilience, and the determination to create meaningful change in the face of tragedy. EPISODE HIGHLIG...

S5E11 THE DIGITAL WOLF PACK: INSIDE THE DARK SIDE OF ONLINE COMMUNITIES In this episode of Stop the Killing, we’re joined by criminologist Dr. Honor Doro Townsend for an eye-opening discussion about the dangers lurking in digital communities. Together, we explore: The shift from lone wolves to "digital wolf packs" and how online spaces foster radicalization. The subtle use of humor and memes as to...

GLOBAL CRIME: LESSONS FROM SOUTH AFRICA TO THE U.S. In this episode, Sarah and Katherine explore the stark differences in crime trends between South Africa and the United States. Focusing on a tragic mass shooting in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, they examine how cultural, legal, and societal factors shape the nature of violence in different countries. From the chilling details of a target...

Episode Update: NEW YEAR'S DAY TERROR: BOURBON STREET ATTACK & PIPE BOMB THREAT Since recording this episode, the FBI has provided new details about the New Orleans attack on Bourbon Street. Initially, there were concerns about multiple individuals being involved, particularly those seen near the explosive devices concealed in coolers. However, investigators have now confirmed they are confident t...

BEYOND METAL DETECTORS: DR. STILWELL ON TRULY COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL SAFETY In this eye-opening episode, we dive into the hidden layers of school safety with Dr. Sarah Stilwell, a leading researcher from the University of Michigan’s National Center for School Safety. Dr. Stilwell brings an innovative approach to creating safer schools—one that goes beyond physical barriers like metal detectors and e...

HOW FLAG LAWS SAVE LIVES: LESSONS FROM LEWISTON In this episode of Stop the Killing, we explore the real-life impact of red and yellow flag laws in preventing gun violence and saving lives. Using the Lewiston, Maine tragedy as a case study, we discuss how flag laws function as critical tools for law enforcement, families, and communities in averting potential acts of violence and suicide. Our conv...

Bonus Episode: Abundant Life Christian School Shooting Show Notes: This is an early access bonus episode exclusively for our subscribers. Recorded on December 17, 2024, just a day after the tragic shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, this episode provides an overview of what we currently know about the incident. In this episode: A timeline of events as they unfolded. C...

S5E7: Analyzing the Lewiston Shooting - Military Links and Missed Signals In this gripping conclusion to our two-part series on the Lewiston Shooting, Katherine and Sarah dive back into the tragic events of October 25, 2023, with Robert Conlin, author of The Lewiston Shooting: An All-American Tragedy. In Part One, we examined the immediate impact of the shooting on the small, close-knit community...

S5E6: ANALYZING THE LEWISTON SHOOTING - TRAGEDY STRIKES MAINE (Part 1) In this powerful episode, Katherine and Sarah dive into Part One of the Lewiston Shooting tragedy with special guest Robert Conlin, author of The Lewiston Shooting: An All-American Tragedy. Together, they explore the tragic events of October 25, 2023, when an Army Reserve soldier with a history of erratic behavior took the live...

CHRIS HANSEN CATCHING PREDATORS Inside the Mind of Predators: Chris Hansen on 20 Years of Crime-Fighting Season 5 Episode 5 Introduction: In this gripping episode of the Stop the Killing podcast, host Katherine Schweit sits down with renowned investigative journalist Chris Hansen, famous for his work on To Catch a Predator. Over the past two decades, Hansen has exposed hundreds of online predators...