Active Shooter

Question 1

Active Shooter

Answer 1

An individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area; there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims

Question 2

Factors of Active Shooter Incidents

Answer 2

-Soft target locations: security low, perception of safety high
-Seemingly illogical actions of the suspect
-Innocent involvement of victims
-Confined public places
-Overall incident chaos

Question 3

First Responders Lessons Learned During 9/11

Answer 3

-Command and control of first responders broke down
-Communication system failed
-Failure to establish an incident command

Question 4

Columbine High School, School shooting

Answer 4

-April 20th, 1999
-Suspects: Dylan Klebold, Eric Harris
-13 people killed
-Suspects remained active for over 49 minutes

Question 4

How many guns were used in Columbine Shooting?

Answer 4

4

Question 5

Impact of Columbine

Answer 5

-Law enforcement now has the operational response of stopping the shooting as quickly as possible
-School systems establish policy/protocals for students exhibiting warning signs
-Some people are glorifying and mimicking actions of suspects

Question 6

General Stages/Phases of an Active Shooter Event

Answer 6

1. Fantasy Stage
2. Mental Jump 1
3. Planning Stage
4. Mental Jump
5. Preparation Stage

Question 7

Fantasy Stage

Answer 7

Potential shooter begins to fantasize about the event. In some shooters movies television shows, books, and video games con contribute to this fantasy

Question 8

1st Mental Jump

Answer 8

Idealizing the shooter to Wanting to be the shooter

Question 9

Planning Stage

Answer 9

Potential shooter may become fixated on past shooting incidents, extensively researching past active shooter incidents

Question 10

Mental Jump 2

Answer 10

Potential shooter commits to the event, date, time

Question 11

Preparation Stage

Answer 11

Potential shooter begins to gather equipment and weapons. The access to firearms and ammunition is critical at this stage. Many shooters practice with the weapons

Question 12

T/F. Leakage can happen within any stage

Answer 12

True

Question 13

Leakage

Answer 13

Occurs when the potential suspect discloses (leaks) information about the impending violence

Question 14

Nature of Leakage

Answer 14

-Bragging about upcoming attack
-Warning people to stay away
-Trying to recruit peers to help with attacks
-Wrtiting assignments that are unusual or violent in nature
-Research or fascination with past shootings
-Posting writing, photos, videos suggesting possible impending violence

Question 15

Average Time of Active Shooter Incidents

Answer 15

Less than 12 minutes

Question 16

Median response time for law enforcement on scene of an active shooter event

Answer 16

3 minutes

Question 17

Most Common Places for Active Shooter Incidents

Answer 17

1. Commerce open to the public: 45-46%
2. Schools: 24%
3. Government institutions: 10%

Question 18

What gender is most common for suspects of active shooter incidents?

Answer 18

94% of Male

Question 19

Do the suspects have some kind of relationship to the location of shooter incidents?

Answer 19

Yes
-Convenience
-High concentration of people
-Some familiarity

Question 20

Most powerful weapons

Answer 20

60% hand guns
25% rifle
8% shotguns

Question 21

Lessons Learned From Virginia Tech

Answer 21

-Increased suspect preparation
-Policy: all buildings on a college or university have to have safety precautions - locked doors
-Actions from victims increase survivial

Question 22

How has active shooter incidents expanded the role of policing?

Answer 22

-Officers are now trained to take immediate action
-Police officers carry tactical equipment: assault rifles, ballistic shields, tourniquets, tactical medical supplies
-Greater police presence at potential targets
-Investigating potential threats
-Primary trainers of National Awareness Campaigns

Question 23

Run, Fight, Hide

Answer 23

-Active shooter awareness campaign developed by Homeland Security
-Based on the premise that what potential victims do in the first few minutes of an active shooter event will have a direct impact on outcome