Palm Beach Atlantic

University

Active Shooter

Awareness Training

Shots Fired on Campus

Training Objectives

History of School Shootings

What is an Active Shooter

List measures that can be employed to reduce the

effectiveness of an active shooter and increase your

chances of survival

Describe actions that can be expected from

responding law enforcement officers

Safety tips

History of School Shootings

From 1991 to the shooting at Virginia Tech in April 2007, there were10 shootings on or near campuses in the United States. Since the Virginia Tech shooting up to the December 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school there have been 61.

According to FBI statistics, between 2000 and 2013 there were 160 active shooter incidents (11.4 annual average)

Of the 39 incidents at an educational environment, 27 were in schools and 12 were at a college or university.

69% of the incidents ended in 5 minutes or less.

60% ended before the police arrived.

56% ended on the shooter’s initiative (suicide, stopped shooting, fled the scene.)

28% of the incidents involved law enforcement and the shooter exchanging gunfire.

In 2015

At least 55 School Shootings

23 at Colleges and Universities

4 occurred in October alone

Umpqua Community College (Oct 1)

Texas Southern University (Oct 9)

Northern Arizona University (Oct 9)

Tennessee State University (Oct 23)

16 at High Schools

3 at Middle Schools

10 at Elementary Schools

2 at Pre-schools

1 on a school bus

The shootings left 32 people dead and 54 injured

Active Shooter

Definition –

An armed person who is using deadly physical force on

other persons and continues to do so while having

unrestricted access to additional victims.

Active shooters have caused a paradigm shift in law

enforcement training and tactics, especially as

these persons do not necessarily expect to escape

or even survive these situations (Columbine, 1999)

Casualties can be mitigated with community

preparedness training and response during the

actual event

• 27% of attackers exhibited interest in violent movies

• 37% of attackers exhibited interest in violence in their own writings,

poems, essays and journal entries

• 59% of attacks occurred during the school day

• 63% of attackers had a known history of weapon use

• 68% acquired the weapon used from their own home or relative

• 93% of attackers engaged in some behavior prior to the attack that caused

others to be concerned

• 95% of attackers were current students

• Odds are one in 1 million that a student will die at school as a result of a

violent act

Statistics

Motives

• 24% motivated by desire for attention or

recognition

• 27% motivated by suicide or desperation

• 34% motivated by attempt to solve a problem

• 54% had multiple motives

• 61% motivated by revenge

• 75% felt bullied/persecuted or threatened by others

Active Shooter Mentality

Desire is to kill and seriously injure without concern

for their 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.

The Faces of Evil

Myron May -FSU; November

2014; 3 wounded (Attorney

& FSU Alumni)

Erik Harris & Dylan

Klebold - Columbine HS;

13 dead, 21 wounded -–

April 1999 (Students)

Seung-Hui Cho -Virginia Tech;

April 2007; 32 dead, 17

wounded (Student – Senior

English Major)

Adam Lanza -Sandy Hook ES;

Dec 2012; 26 dead, 2 wounded

(Teacher’s son)

Chris Mercer - Umpqua

Community College;

October 2015; 9 dead, 9

wounded (Former Student)

Amy Bishop – University

of Alabama in Huntsville;

February 2010; 3 dead, 3

wounded (Neurobiology

Professor)

Get Out (Run)

Move quickly; don’t wait for others to validate

your decision

Leave belongings behind

Survival chances increase if you are not where

shooter is or go where he can’t see you

Call Out

Inform authorities

Call 9-1-1 and tell them the name of shooter (if

known), shooter description, location, number

and type of weapons

Course of Action

RUN

Hide Out

May not be able to get out

Shooter between you and the only exit

Would have to enter area where shooter is

positioned

Hiding place

• Well hidden and well protected

• Avoid places that might trap you or restrict

movement

Course of Action

HIDE

Keep Out

Find a room that can be locked with

objects to hide behind

Blockade door with heavy furniture

Turn out lights; become totally silent

Turn off noise-producing devices

Call 9-1-1 (If you can do so without

alerting the shooter)

Course of Action

Spread Out

If two or more of you, DO NOT huddle

together; gives you options and makes

it harder for the shooter

Quietly develop a plan of action in the

event the shooter enters

Remain calm

Can have a contagious effect on

others

Keeps others focused on survival

Course of Action

Take Out (LAST RESORT)

Assume shooter’s intentions are lethal

Shooter will succeed in shooting all

those with whom he comes in contact,

UNLESS you stop him

Develop a survival mindset that you

have “what it takes” to survive when

your life is on the line

You must be prepared to do whatever it

takes to neutralize the threat

Throw things, yell, use improvised

weapons

Course of Action

FIGHT

Only you can draw the line on what you will or will not do to preserve your life or the lives of others

If shooting starts, you need to make your own choice; stay still and hope they don’t shoot you, run for an exit zig zagging, or attack the shooter

This is not a recommendation to fight, but rather a choice to fight when there are no other options

Arm Yourself with a Survival

Mindset

Arm Yourself with a Survival Mindset

Contacting Emergency Personnel

Emergency 911

When you can safely do it, call police first – We need them QUICKLY

PBA Dispatch (561) 803-2500

What to Report

Your specific location

Number of people at your specific location

Injuries

Assailant information -location, number of assailants, race, gender, clothing color and style, physical features, type of weapons (rifles, handguns), backpack, have you heard any explosions separate from gunshots? Do you recognize the shooter? What is his/her name?

PBA Security Role

If an incident occurs on campus, a quick response from law

enforcement is vital. PBA security will assist staff and students with

seeking shelter.

Law Enforcement officers will respond, and upon their arrival will

take charge of the situation. You can expect to see officers from a

variety of agencies such as the West Palm Beach PD, Palm Beach

County Sheriff’s Office, FDLE, FBI, etc.

Their primary objective will be to confront the suspect(s) and

neutralize the threat

Police Response

Law enforcement's goal is to locate, contain, and stop the shooter

The shooter will probably not flee when law enforcement enters the building, instead the shooter will have new target to shoot at

Everyone in the building will be considered a suspect

When the team of officers makes contact with you, do not run towards them

Keep your hands visible and do exactly what they tell you to

Officers will engage with force, anyone that is armed or moves on them in what can be perceived an aggressive manner

If you are near the suspects when officers make entry, the best thing to do is drop as low as you can and stay there, with your hands visible until the team commands you to get up.

Police Response (cont.)

Injured Persons

Initial responding officers will not treat the injured or begin evacuation until the threat is neutralized

You will need to explain this to others in an attempt to calm them

Once the shooter is contained, officers will begin treatment and evacuation

Evacuation

Safety corridors will be established. This may be time consuming

Remain in secure areas until instructed otherwise

You may be searched. Leave your personal belongings

You will be escorted out of the building by law enforcement personnel

Safety Tips

Whether you are coming to class or working on campus, take ownership of making sure your location is safe

Be aware of your surroundings (e.g. location of exits, doorways, etc…)

Report suspicious persons to PBA Security immediately

Program PBA security dispatch (561) 803-2500 in your cell phone (911 calls from cell phones go to WPBPD Dispatch)

Be aware of the blue campus emergency phones

Awareness, Preparation, Rehearsal

RUN, HIDE, FIGHT!

Closing Thoughts

We can not predict the origin of the next threat

Assailants in some recent incidents across the country were not students or employees

There are no obvious specific targets and the victims were unaware they were targets, until attacked

Discussion and Questions

Palm Beach Atlantic University

Department of

Safety and Security

(561) 803-2500

campus_safety@pba.edu