ACTIVE SHOOTER & ACTIVE THREAT Missouri State Highway Patrol Sergeant Scott White
ACTIVE SHOOTER - DEFINED An Active Shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims. Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Typically, the immediate deployment of law enforcement is required to stop the shooting and mitigate harm to victims.
A Brief History in Active Shooter Incidents
ABB Shooting, St. Louis 2010 4 dead and 5 injured
ABB Shooting, St. Louis Timothy Hendron - AK-47-type semi-automatic, at least two Hi-Point handguns, a pump-action shotgun, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Shootings began around 6:30 a.m. when he opened fire in a parking lot near the factory before moving inside. Hendron fired about 100 rounds of ammunition, killing two people in the parking lot and another person inside the factory before killing himself. Five people were injured in the incident. Other employees took refuge on the roof of the building or in rooms within the factory. An employee at the facility returned fire with his concealed firearm when the gunman was moving down the hall towards a group of workers who were hiding in a break room.
Neosho Church Shooting 2007 3 dead and 5 injured
Neosho Church Shooting 2007 Witnesses reported that on 12 August 2007, Eiken Elam Saimon entered the First Congregational Church in Neosho during Sunday services. There were over 50 people attending the services, most of them from Neosho's Micronesian community. Saimon carried two small-caliber handguns and a 9- millimeter semi-automatic pistol. After asking the children and some members of his own family to leave the room, Saimon began shooting at the other people in the church. Three people were killed: the pastor of the church and two deacons. Police suspected that he was specifically targeting church leaders. Saimon was arrested after approximately ten minutes of negotiations with the police.
Kirkwood City Hall Shooting - 2008 6 Killed 1 injured
2010 Panama City school board shooting
ACTIVE SHOOTER Because active shooter situations are often over within 10 to 15 minutes, before law enforcement arrives on the scene, individuals must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation.
ACTIVE SHOOTER HOW TO PREPARE Be observant of surroundings and report suspicious behavior. Formulate a plan as a family in the event of an emergency. Choose seats that allow a good vantage point and a hasty exit. Avoid opening night and large crowds that make easy targets. If you are going into a dark area, have a bright flashlight.
WHAT TO DO ONCE THE SHOOTING STARTS Figure Out! Decide your best course of action. A. RUN B. HIDE - Get out: can you safely escape? - Hide out: is there a good place to hide? C. FIGHT - Take out: will you take out the shooter?
ACTIVE SHOOTER HOW TO RESPOND RUN - Get Out! A. If you can, escape, get out. B. Trust your instincts. C. Leave belongings behind. HIDE Hide Out! A. Find a hidden location. B. Find protection. C. Avoid places that trap or restrict movement. D. Spread out (don t huddle) this gives options for escape and movement and makes you a harder target.
ACTIVE SHOOTER HOW TO RESPOND HIDE - Call Out! A. Don t assume someone else is calling. B. Call police for help. C. Be persistent when calling, telephone lines may be jammed. D. Calmly state where you are and what is happening.
ACTIVE SHOOTER HOW TO RESPOND HIDE - Keep Out! A. Find a room that locks. B. Blockade the door. C. Be silent. D. Turn out the lights and turn off the noise (i.e., silence, but don t turn off cell phones, etc.). FIGHT - Take Out! A. Make a plan. B. Act as a team. C. Commit completely to your action plan. D. Do whatever necessary to neutralize the situation.
ACTIVE SHOOTER HOW TO RESPOND Help Out! If possible A. Help others stay calm. B. Help others escape. C. Warn others. D. Help the injured. E. Keep others away from danger area.
INFORMATION YOU SHOULD PROVIDE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OR 911 OPERATOR Location of the active shooter. Number and type of weapons held by the shooter/s. Number of shooters, if more than one. Physical description of shooter/s. Number of potential victims at the location.
HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL RESPOND TO AN ACTIVE SHOOTER Police are trained to proceed as quickly as possible to the sound of the gunfire. Their purpose is to stop the shooter. Officers may be in plain clothes, patrol uniforms, or SWAT uniforms armed with long rifles, shotguns, and/or handguns. They will have identification. Do as the officers direct you, and keep your hands visible at all times to show the officers you are not a threat.
HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL RESPOND TO AN ACTIVE SHOOTER If possible, tell the officers where the shooter was last seen, and provide a full description of the shooter and any weapons used. Also, be aware that the first responding police officers will not stop to assist injured people. Others will follow to treat the injured. First responding officers are trained to proceed as quickly as possible to gunfire and stop the shooter.
WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRIVES ON THE SCENE
HOW YOU SHOULD REACT WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRIVES Remain calm, and follow officers instructions. Avoid pointing, screaming and/or yelling. Immediately raise hands and spread fingers. Keep hands visible at all times. Avoid making quick movements toward officers such as attempting to hold on to them for safety.
HOW YOU SHOULD REACT WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRIVES Do not stop to ask officers for help or direction when evacuating, just proceed in the direction from which officers are entering the premises.
TRAINED TO REACT TO A CRISIS VS. UNTRAINED Trained Untrained Feel anxious. Feel panic. Recall what they ve learned. Are in disbelief or denial. Prepare to act just as they ve rehearsed. Commit to action. Are in shock. Descend to helplessness.
IN CONCLUSION Remember to constantly be aware of your surroundings. Active shooter situations are extremely unpredictable and traumatic, but they are survivable. Have a plan in place and give you and your family the best chance to survive!
Presented by: Sergeant Scott White Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop F