Run, Hide, Fight

December 18, 2012

September 19, 2013

Definition of an Active Shooter

• An active shooter is a person actively engaged in killing and wounding people in a populated building or area using a firearm as a weapon

• The threat is not contained and there is an immediate risk of injury or death

• Shooter may be suicidal

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How Great is the Threat?

Incidents of this type invariably receive intense and extended media coverage, giving them a very high profile. However, despite the attention given to isolated instances of extreme violence, the chances of this type of incident occurring in educational facilities and houses of worship is actually quite low, and the odds against such an attack occurring in any particular location are enormous.

For example, according to the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Department of Education, the odds are one in 1 million that a student will die at school as a result of a violent act.

The Challenge and Down-and-Dirty• No Standard Profile of an Active Shooter

• Identifying the problem before it becomes violent.– When in doubt, report:

• Immediate Threat or Concern – GTPD • Student – Dean of Students• Faculty/Staff – Office of Human Resources

• Shooting time period v. Police Response.– <5 minutes – Shooting– >5 minutes – Police into building

• Actions by those in the line of fire.– Run– Hide– Fight!

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Mentality of Active Shooter

• Desire is to kill and injure without concern for his safety or threat of capture

• Normally has intended victims and will seek them out• Accepts targets of opportunity while looking for or after

finding intended victims• Will continue until stopped by law enforcement, suicide,

or other violent intervention

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Three Main Categories of Mass Murderers

1.Family Annihilators2.Set-and-Run or Hit-and-Run3.Pseudocommandos

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Key Findings of 154 Cases2002-2012

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Shooter after incident

– 43% committed suicide– 8% shot and killed by responders– 45% arrested– 4% unidentified

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Key Findings of 154 Cases2002-2012

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Motivation

– 40% never clearly determined– 21% workplace retaliation– 14% domestic disputes– 7% academic retaliation

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Key Findings of 154 Cases2002-2012

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The Shooter

• 96% - Male• 96% - Alone• 37% - Workplace Environment• 17% - Academic Setting

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Key Findings of 154 Cases2002-2012

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The Shooter – many described as:• Social isolates, harbored feelings of

hate and anger, and/or had some reported contact with mental health professionals.

• Mental illness is commonly referenced as a potential contributing factor.

• Very few had previous arrests for violent crimes.

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Key Findings of 154 Cases2002-2012

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Common Catalysts or Triggers:• Loss of significant relationships• Changes in financial Status• Loss of a Job• Changes in living arrangements• Major adverse changes to life

circumstances• Feeling of humiliation or reject on

the part of the shooter AA

The Shooter (in general)

• Desire is to kill and seriously injure without concern for his safety or threat of capture

• Normally has intended victims and will search them out

• Accepts targets of opportunity while searching for or after finding intended victims

• Will continue to move throughout building/area until stopped by law enforcement, suicide, or other intervention

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Indicators of Potential Violence: Students

• No one behavior fits all!• Most are male• Most were affiliated with the school

and/or students targeted• Often, disciplinary, legal, or other action

(i.e., being fired by an employer) had taken place before the attack

• Forewarning, either through internet media or through comments to other students, was common before the attack. AA

Indicators of Potential Violence: Students

• The most distinctly repeated factor in the case of most active shooters is a change in personality.

• These changes trend toward withdrawal from other students, work, and life in general.

• Increased substance use• Mood swings• Depression, hopelessness, isolation,

rage, or despair

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Indicators of Potential Violence: Students

• Noticeable change in academic performance

• Decrease in hygiene, personal appearance• Explosive, uncontrollable outbursts• Lack of emotion• Suicidal, speaking of “setting things right”• Loss of interest in previous activities• Empathy for or excessive interest in past

violent acts• Increased discussion of weapons,

firearms, violent acts, especially unsolicited

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Precipitory Events

• Catalyst…final straw – with underlying theme of loss of face, humiliation, injured pride, shame.

• May be in the form of bullying incident, loss of romantic relationship, administrative or disciplinary investigation.

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PATHWAY TO VIOLENCE

BreachPreparation

Research/Planning

Ideation

Grievance

ATTACK

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Shooter Summary

• There is no single profile or stereotype of the assailants or their motivations. The attackers varied substantially in personality, social characteristics, background, age, home situation, mental health history, prior encounters with law enforcement, and other factors.

• Profiling on the basis of these factors, therefore, is not effective for identifying those who may pose a risk for targeted violence. It is much more productive to focus on behaviors and communications—warning signs that someone might be planning or preparing for an attack.

Warning Signs Are Common

• Most attackers engaged in some troubling behaviors prior to the incident that caused concern or indicated a need for help. Such behaviors included:

• Research, planning, and preparation (for example, researching how to build a bomb, sketching maps and diagrams, trying to obtain a gun).

• Suicidal threats and attempts.• Difficulty coping with significant losses or personal

failures such as death of a loved one, loss of status, job loss, divorce, or academic failure.

• History of being bullied, threatened, harassed, or attacked by others.

• Inappropriate interest in accounts of mass violence, or violent themes in movies, books, video games, or their own writings.

Attackers Make Plans

• Incidents of targeted violence are rarely impulsive. In almost all incidents, the attacker developed the idea to harm the target before the attack. In many cases, the person formulated the idea for the attack at least 2 weeks in advance and planned out the incident.

• Targeted violence is typically the end result of an understandable, often discernible, process of thinking and behavior.

• Example—Virginia Tech: The student responsible for killing at least 30 people at Virginia Tech appeared to have planned his attack for weeks—purchasing weapons, testing campus security, and preparing documentation.

Attackers Talk About Their Plans

• Most attackers didn’t threaten their targets directly before the attack. But prior to most incidents, the attacker told someone—a friend, schoolmate, sibling—and sometimes many people, about the idea or plan before taking action.

• In nearly every case of school attacks, the person who was told was a peer and rarely did anything to bring the information to an adult’s attention. In fact, in many cases, friends or fellow students actually encouraged the attacker to act.

Attackers Often Have Easy Access to Weapons

• In past incidents, most attackers had used guns previously and had access to guns. In nearly two-thirds of school incidents, for example, the attackers obtained the weapons from their own home or that of a relative.

• Remember, however, that although guns have been the weapon of choice in many incidents, it is unwise to focus only on “active shooter” scenarios. Past assailants have used guns, knives, improvised explosive devices, fire, and other types of weapons, and they have used firearms and explosives in combination. Future attackers could very well expand their methods to include weapons of terror not seen in past incidents.

K-12 Schools vs. University Setting

Unlike most K-12 public schools, college and university facilities and classrooms typically do not feature:

1. Two-way intercom systems in buildings and classrooms

2. A centralized administrative office

3. Visitor sign in areas or procedures

4. Access control technologies

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Personal Emergency Planning

• Be aware of your environment and any possible dangers

• Mentally rehearse how you would react in various types of emergency situations

• Be familiar with two exits whenever you enter a building or room

• Ask about building emergency action plans• Program local and campus emergency numbers into

your cell phone• Participate in campus emergency notification

systems

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Your Options in an Active Shooter Incident

• Run• Hide• Fight

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Run (Escape)

• If it is safe to do so RUN!• Drop and leave your personal

belongings (books, book bag, purse)

• Exit the immediate area• Proceed cautiously as there may

be more than one shooter• Keep your hands visible and not

in your pockets• Call 911 or your campus police

and provide as much information as you can as soon as it is safe to do so RB

Outdoor Areas/Hallways

• If you are located outside a building, seek cover immediately

• Put something between you and the shooter• If you are in a hallway, escape out the nearest exit if it is

safe to do so• If any doubt exists, find a safe area and barricade the door

with any available items

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Hide (Barricade)

• Locate the nearest classroom/closet/office with a door• Lock or barricade the door with any available items• Block or cover windows to the hallway and close blinds• Turn off the room lights• Call 911 or campus public safety • Silence your cell phone and other electronics in the room• Place signs in exterior windows so responders will know

where you are located• After securing the room, position people out of sight as

best as possible• Look for possible window exits if you are on or near the

ground floor

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Fight

• Fight back only as a last resort and when your life is in imminent danger

• Organize others and formulate a plan• Throw books, chairs, book bags, etc. at

the shooter• Overpower the shooter and disarm him• Commit to your actions• Don’t be a victim!

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Techniques that Could Save You!

The 2 to 3 second rush. • This is for if you're really close to the shooter

and feel he's either shooting at you or will as you make your move.

• Determine a route to safety that includes as much cover and concealment on the way.

• Use it by sprinting in brief rushes that last 2 to 3 seconds at a time from one hiding place to the next. The average marksman can only sight on a target within 3 to 4 seconds.

• Try to stay low and dodge and weave if you miscalculate the distance. It isn't perfect, but it is a proven infantry technique. AA

Techniques that Could Save You!

Fighting back with an improvised weapon!

• Scissors!• Attack the shooter’s vitals (eyes,

nose, throat, head, groin or solar plexus). Pencil in deep into the eye socket works particularly well.

• A backpack, briefcase or suitcase stuffed with phone books can serve as a small arms impromptu bullet proof vest.

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Techniques that Could Save You!

Fighting back with an improvised weapon!

• The center pole from a clothes rack, stiletto or wedge heel, and leg from a desk or chair can serve as an impact weapon.

• A belt can serve as a flexible weapon to strike (belt buckle) or to strangle.

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Techniques that Could Save You!

Fighting back with an improvised weapon!

• If trapped with multiple people, work together to improve chances for surviving.

• Your goal is to get the shooter on the ground and neutralized.

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Once the Door is Breached!

Typically, when a person breaches a door he will look straight ahead first.

• Those who are in direct line or across from the shooter should move away from the team members who are positioned next to the door, to distract the shooter.

• Team members who are positioned on the side of the doors or at an ambush area should attack the shooter.

• One person forces the perpetrator’s weapon down and to the side.

• Another person attacks the shooter’s lower body, typically behind the knee taking him to the ground.

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Once the Door is Breached!

• Do whatever necessary to neutralize the attacker.

• Other team members should secure something to bound and gag the shooter while awaiting law enforcement.

• The most well trained person should secure the weapon and be prepared to help defend others.

• Move others into a position of cover away from the initial line of fire and prepare to defend.

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Techniques that Could Save You!

Play Dead!AA

Assisting Other People

• Call 911 or campus law enforcement as soon as possible

• Attempt to calm others down and plan options should the shooter enter your area

• Do not let others in the room if you do not feel it is safe to do so or if you cannot identify/recognize the person or official

• Attempts to rescue people should only be made if it can be done without further endangering the persons inside the secure area

• Assist injured people in secure areas with available equipment and supplies (advise 911 of injured persons)

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What Information Should Be Reported to 911?

• Your Specific Location (Building, floor, room number)• Number of people at your location, number of injuries and type of

injuries• Suspect(s) Information:

-Location (if known)

-Number of shooters

-Name of shooter (if known)

-Overall description (physical/clothing)

-Type of weapons (rifle, shotgun or handgun)

-Explosives

-Backpack or other items

-Other important information

Emergency lines will likely be busy so continue calling to report the incident as you

may have critical information first responders

may need. RB

How Will Law Enforcement Respond?

• Law enforcement will immediately respond to area and form a team to enter the building

• Law enforcement’s goal is to locate, contain, & stop the shooter

• Law enforcement will bypass injured people initially to locate the shooter(s)

• Stay inside a secure room until instructed to exit

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Your Response When Law Enforcement Arrives

• Remain in place until instructed to move• Follow officers’ instructions• Do not have any items in your hands• Immediately raise your hands and do not

present a threat to the responding officers• Avoid quick movements around the

officers, don’t try to hug or hold on to them

• Avoid pointing, screaming or yelling• Limit your questions to officers regarding

the suspect, others in the building or other incident information

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Quick Review

• Have a plan• Take immediate action• Find a secure area or run• Calm, reassure, and quiet

others• Call 911 or campus police• Treat injured people if it is

safe to do so• When in doubt, call GTPD

or report…– Student/Dean of Students– Employee/Human Resources

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EP Certificate Program

The program consists of 5 required classes and 2 electives. Classes are offered throughout the year, but can also be requested for departmental and/or building specific locations, including over a shorter time period.

Offered through OHR Learning and Professional Development.

EP Certificate ProgramRequired Courses1. Campus Fire Safety2. Emergency Preparedness 1013. Intro to the Incident Command System for Higher Ed4. Plan, Prep, React -- Active Shooter Response Options5. What Is In Your Building: Hazards Awareness

Elective Courses (pick 2)• Awareness for Initial Response to Hazardous Materials Incidents• Bomb Threat Management• Chematix - Chemical Management• Continuity of Operations Planning• CPR/AED/First Aid• Crime Prevention 101• Drill It! Planning and Conducting an Emergency Exercise in Your

Area • Safety Abroad• See Something, Say Something• Weather Hazards and Precautions

Additional Resource Information • GT Emergency Procedures and Action Plan

http://www.gatech.edu/emergency/

• Sign up for GTENS!

• Regular Refresher Courses & Videos– Active Shooter – What You Can Do (

http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is907.asp)– Preparing for Mass Casualty Incidents: A Guide for Schools,

Higher Education, and Houses of Worship http://emilms.fema.gov/IS360/index.htm

– Active Shooter Situation: Options for Consideration (Video): https:cs.hsin.gov/

– Workplace Security Awareness http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/IS906.asp

– IED Threat Awareness and Detection (www.dhs.gov/cfsector)

• GT-Campus Emergency Response Team AA

Scan for App

qrs.ly/8z3hev3

Are You Ready?The Georgia Tech Office of Emergency Preparedness encourages you to stay informed.

Questions & Discussion

Catherine Hubbard, 6

See Something, Say Something

Trust Your Instincts

Do Something!RunHideFight

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