Texas law enforcement officials, mental health professionals, and federal agencies gathered in Fort Worth earlier this month to discuss identifying warning signs of targeted violence before attacks occur.
The Texas Department of Public Safety hosted the 2026 Texas Preventing Targeted Violence Conference. The four-day event brought together more than 380 participants from across the United States and Canada to focus on early intervention, behavioral threat assessment, and interagency collaboration.
“Preventing targeted violence requires awareness, preparation, and a commitment to proactive action,” said Chief Gerald Brown of the DPS Homeland Security Division.
“This conference brings together experts and community members from across the country to share knowledge, strengthen prevention strategies, and keep our communities safe.”
The conference comes as Texas authorities continue responding to several high-profile attacks and plots in recent years.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, a gunman opened fire on a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in 2025, killing one detainee and critically injuring others. Earlier that year, suspects allegedly ambushed the Prairieland Detention Facility in Alvarado, leaving a local police officer seriously wounded.
Authorities have also disrupted planned attacks. In December 2025, investigators arrested an 18-year-old Pasadena high school student accused of plotting a campus mass shooting.
Investigators are also examining the recent Sixth Street mass shooting in Austin that left three people dead and wounded more than a dozen others.
Nationally, investigators have studied several major incidents to identify warning signs before attacks occur. The 2023 Covenant School shooting in Nashville has drawn extensive analysis after journals written by the attacker revealed psychological struggles and grievances. In another case, the FBI classified a deadly 2025 church attack in Michigan as an act of targeted violence.
During the Fort Worth conference, speakers from agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, Texas Education Agency, and the Texas School Safety Center led discussions on behavioral threat assessment and management, identifying pre-attack indicators, and intervening before violence occurs.
Participants included law enforcement officials, educators, mental health professionals, faith leaders, nonprofit organizations, and private-sector representatives.
“Targeted violence prevention cannot be accomplished by a single agency or profession alone,” said Chief Floyd Goodwin of the DPS Criminal Investigation Division.
“Bringing together law enforcement, mental health professionals, educators, faith leaders, business partners and community organizations allows us to identify risks earlier, share critical information and intervene before violence occurs.”
Conference attendees could earn continuing education credits through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and Texas Behavioral Health while completing training focused on improving violence prevention efforts across communities.