A trail of violence

Trolley Square shooter Sulejman Talovic died in a gun battle with police the night of his murderous rampage, Feb. 12. With his demise, the best chance to determine his motives vanished.

Nothing can erase any of his responsibility for killing five people and wounding four, and the incalculable suffering and terror he caused. But crime never happens in a vacuum. These articles attempt to shed light on Talovic's actions by examining factors that may have influenced him.

The emotional history of the 18-year-old killer is difficult to untangle. The trail begins in a remote mountain village in Bosnia, leads to the family's flight during the Serb military assault against Bosnian Muslims, continues at refugee centers during the war and shifts to several locations in Salt Lake City.