Nihilistic Violent Extremism Rises as Motive Behind Recent Attacks

Investigators struggle to understand the growing phenomenon of 'killers without a cause' driven by a desire to sow chaos and collapse society

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Amid a wave of high-profile killings and political violence in the United States, investigators have been confounded by the absence of a recognizable agenda or ideology behind the attacks. These assailants, described as 'nihilistic violent extremists', express a contempt for humanity and a desire to see the collapse of civilization, with no clear political, social, or religious goals. The phenomenon has been linked to the rise of online communities that glorify mass killers, as well as the broader societal divisions and rhetoric that have influenced some young people to view violence as a solution.

Why it matters

The rise of nihilistic violent extremism poses a new challenge for law enforcement and policymakers, as the perpetrators do not fit into existing definitions of terrorism or extremism. Their lack of a clear agenda makes them difficult to predict and prevent, raising concerns about public safety and the need to address the underlying societal factors that may be driving this trend.

The details

Investigators have traced the motives of these attackers through their online activities and written manifestos, which reveal a reverence for past mass killers and a desire to emulate their 'meaningless' acts of violence. The assailants, ranging from teenagers to young adults, have targeted a variety of victims, from schools to businesses to religious institutions, in an apparent effort to sow chaos and destruction. Some have also expressed a belief in 'accelerationism', the idea that society must be violently destroyed in order to be rebuilt.

  • In December 2024, 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow opened fire at her school in Madison, Wisconsin, killing two and injuring six before taking her own life.
  • Five weeks after Rupnow's attack, 17-year-old Solomon Henderson opened fire in the cafeteria of his school in Antioch, Tennessee, killing one student and injuring another before killing himself.
  • In August 2025, 16-year-old Robin Westman killed two children at a Minneapolis church and then died by suicide, with one of his guns inscribed with the word 'Rupnow'.
  • In March 2025, federal prosecutors filed charges against 17-year-old Nikita Casap, who allegedly killed his parents to 'obtain the financial means and autonomy necessary' to kill the president and overthrow the government.
  • In January 2025, 24-year-old Skyler Philippi was arrested for plotting to blow up the Nashville power grid, allegedly seeking to precipitate 'the start of the end ... for the interconnected or otherwise globalized world.'

The players

Natalie Rupnow

A 15-year-old who opened fire at her school in Madison, Wisconsin, killing two and injuring six before taking her own life. Rupnow had an online presence where she expressed reverence for past mass killers and a desire to emulate their 'meaningless' acts of violence.

Solomon Henderson

A 17-year-old who opened fire in the cafeteria of his school in Antioch, Tennessee, killing one student and injuring another before killing himself. Henderson had an online account where he referred to Rupnow as 'a saint'.

Robin Westman

A 16-year-old who killed two children at a Minneapolis church and then died by suicide, with one of his guns inscribed with the word 'Rupnow'.

Nikita Casap

A 17-year-old who allegedly killed his parents to 'obtain the financial means and autonomy necessary' to kill the president and overthrow the government, according to federal prosecutors.

Skyler Philippi

A 24-year-old who was arrested for plotting to blow up the Nashville power grid, allegedly seeking to precipitate 'the start of the end ... for the interconnected or otherwise globalized world.'

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What they’re saying

“Basically it comes down to: I'm angry that I exist and that nobody got my consent to bring me here. There's no way you can get consent to bring someone here, so don't f—ing do it.”

— Guy Edward Bartkus, Self-described 'anti-natalist' who blew himself up outside an in vitro fertilization clinic

“We were seeing a set of cases in which the existing definitions did not apply.”

— Cody Zoschak, Researcher at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and former New York Police Department counterterrorism analyst

“What is scary now is we don't know where the next threat might be coming from.”

— Michael Jensen, Director of research for the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab at American University

“When innocent people are killed, people want some idea of why it happened.”

— Shon Barnes, Former police chief of Madison, Wisconsin

“Search engines often give people a community of the like-minded — in things good and things bad.”

— Shon Barnes, Former police chief of Madison, Wisconsin

What’s next

The judge in the case of Nikita Casap will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow him out on bail.

The takeaway

The rise of nihilistic violent extremism highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing the underlying societal factors that may be driving some young people to view violence as a solution, including the impact of divisive rhetoric and the proliferation of online communities that glorify mass killers. Addressing this challenge will require collaboration between law enforcement, mental health professionals, and community leaders to identify and support those at risk before they turn to violence.