By Jennifer Preston, The Lede @ nytimes.com, Jan. 19, 2013

[....] For more than a year, the 19-year-old gunman who opened fire at a shopping mall in Columbia, Md., last Saturday, killing two skateboard store employees, made sporadic references in his journal about killing people and showed awareness that he struggled with mental illness, police officials said Wednesday [....]

On Facebook, the police department published:

He indicates he thought he needed a mental health professional, but never told his family. He also mentions using marijuana.

He expresses thoughts of wanting to die, says he is ready to die, and has a general hatred of others.

Aguilar mentions killing people, but in general terms. He does not mention the victims, or any other person. He does not mention targeting specific people, locations, ethnicities or groups.

He expresses that his plan is set, but does not indicate what he’s referring to. Included in his writings is an apology to his family for what he is planning to do.

[.....]