active shooter updated

A look at the characteristics of and response to potential active shooters and scenarios

Active Shooter

By: SSgt James Bane

Outline Define Active Shooter

Historic Shooters

Characteristics of Active Shooters

Phases of Active Shooters

Potential Responses to Shooter situations

When individuals come to the point of being an active shooter,

in most cases they are not afraid of death and may have no feelings for the people they may be shooting….

What is an Active Shooter?

…an individual actively engaged in killing people in a confined and populated area with no typical pattern or method to their selection of victims.

Historic Active Shooters

Hasan Akbar, SGT, U.S. Army

Camp Pennsylvania Shooter

Nidal Hasan, MAJ, U.S. Army

Ft. Hood Shooter

Seung-hui Cho, VA Tech. Student

Virginia Tech Shooter

James E. Holmes, U. of Co. Student

CO. Movie Theater Shooter

Retrieved from ADLS Force Protection (ZZ133079) and WTPV.com (2010).

“Typical” Active Shooter Primary Purpose: Mass Homicide

Victims are “dehumanized” in the shooter’s mind

Often acts of vengeance for a perceived injustice

Many active shooter’s commit suicide

Fanatics may fight to the death

Often times are Males

Profiling Active Shooters Difficult to pinpoint Common characteristics among non-shooters Different personalities and motivations

Relationship problems & history of rejection "They have no social outlets…" Being viewed as a "real man" is important to young men

Information retrieved from Psychology 101: The mind of a shooter, 2007, by Amanda Phillips with Joseph Gasper, Sociologist with Johns Hopkins University

"His classmates reported that he was bullied and made fun of him for his shyness and how he walked,” said Gasper in reference to Cho, the Virginia Tech shooter.

Characteristics of Active Shooters

An otherwise normal person, no matter how stressed, doesn’t just suddenly “snap” and go on a killing spree. In virtually all of the cases that have been studied by behavioral scientists, there has emerged a predictable pattern in the evolution of most mass violence incidents.

--Dr. Laurence Miller, clinical and forensic psychologist and law enforcement educator

Information retrieved from Mass violence: Why do they do it? What can we do about it?, 2007, By Laurence Miller, Ph.D.

Characteristics of Active Shooters Anti-American statements asserting that U.S. policy and authority is illegitimate Aggression or threats toward coworkers Presence of unauthorized weapons Attempts to communicate with U.S. enemies Unfounded allegations of U.S. persecution or prejudice against a minority

group or religion Abnormal mood swings or depression, withdrawn behavior, decrease in

hygiene, suicidal remarks, paranoia Flashbacks to prior traumatic events Abuse of alcohol or drugs Repeated violation of policies Talk of domestic/financial problems.

Retrieved from ADLS Force Protection (ZZ133079)

If you notice questionable behavior, tell your supervisor.

If you perceive an immediate threat, alert unit security.

Similarities Among Historic ShootersExaggerated need for attention and respect Rejection and isolation by peers Feelings of alienation, bullying and persecutionAntisocial tendencies Poor coping skills Anger management issues Relationship and discipline issues History of making violent threats Depression Attempted suicide Access to parents' weapons

Information retrieved from Psychology 101: The mind of a shooter, 2007, by Amanda Phillips

Five Phases of Active Shooters1. Fantasy

2. Planning

3. Preparation

4. Approach

5. Implementation

The most importance phases for Prevention!

If anyone observes behaviors, notify security personnel or other

authority figures for action.

-Immediate supervisor-Unit/Area Security Officer-First Sergeant-CC or DO-Security Forces

Potential Responses

Evacuation

Lockdown

Taking action against shooter (Recommended Last Resort)

Cooperating with first responders

Retrieved from ADLS Force Protection (ZZ133079); Auburn University, 2007

An active shooter situation may be over within 15 minutes. In the meantime…

Evacuate

Be sure to: Have an escape route and plan in mind

Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow you

Leave your belongings behind

Help others to escape, if possible

Prevent others from entering an area where the active shooter may be located

Do not attempt to move wounded people

Call 911 when you are safe

Force Protection (ZZ133079)—Force protection slides were retrieved from ADLS.

…Get Out!


LockdownIf evacuation is not possible, you should consider the following… Find a place where the active shooter is less likely to find you.

…Hide and Barricade!

Places you choose should: Be out of the shooter’s view Provide protection if shots are fired. Not trap you. Have locks on the door. Have furniture to blockade the door.


Take Action (Last Resort/Imminent Threat)

Acting aggressively against him or her

Throwing items and improvising weapons

Yelling

Committing to your actions

YouTube Training Session

…Take Action!

Information retrieved from YouTube video Last Resort Active Shooter Survival Measures, 2010, by Alon Stivi

Cooperate w/ 1st Responders When first responders arrive:

Remain calm and follow instructions

Put down any items in your hands

Raise your hands and spread your fingers

Keep your hands visible

Avoid quick movements

Do not cling to emergency personnel

Avoid pointing or screaming

Avoid asking first responders for help when evacuating

Evacuate in the direction first responders are entering

Provide the following information: Location of the active shooter

Number of shooters

Physical description of the shooter

Number and type of weapons held by the shooter

Number of potential victims

…Cooperate!


Questions If anyone has questions regarding the material in this briefing, feel free to contact:

SSgt James Bane, [email protected]

If you would like to discuss anything further regarding active shooter or concerns regarding personnel safety, please contact:

Your supervisor

The First Sergeant

Your unit safety representatives

Security forces

References ADLS. n.d. Force Protection (CBT). Retrieved from https://golearn.csd.disa.mil/kc/main/kc_frame.asp

Marcou, D. n.d. 5 Phases of the "Active Shooter“. Retrieved from http://www.school-

training.com/newsletter/articles/submitted/active-shooter.shtml.

Miller, L. December 10, 2007. Mass violence: Why do they do it? What can we do about it?. Retrieved from

http://www.policeone.com/active-shooter/articles/1637969-Mass-violence-Why-do-they-do-it-What-can-we-do-about-it/.

Phillips, A. June 15, 2007. Psychology 101: The mind of a shooter. Retrieved from

http://www.officer.com/article/10249728/psychology-101-the-mind-of-a-shooter

Stivi, A. June 18, 2010. Last Resort Active Shooter Survival Measures. Retrieved from

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2tIeRUbRHw

Texas School Safety Center, Texas State University-San Marcos. May 31, 2012. Prevention and Response to Active Shooter/Killer: ICJS SBLE

Instructor. Retrieved from http://txsbleconference.com/downloads/resources/Ramirez-Prevention-Mitigation-Response-to-an-

Active-Shooter.pdf.

University of California Police Department. May 24, 2007. Safety Tips & Guidelines regarding potential “Active Shooter” incidents occurring

on Campus. Retrieved from http://ucpd.ucla.edu/070402CP.pdf

WTPV.com. 20 July 2012. Aurora, Colorado, Century Movie Theater 'Dark Knight Rises' shooting: 14 confirmed dead. Retrieved

from http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/national/aurora-colorado-century-movie-theater-dark-knight-rises-shooting-at-least-39-

people-shot

active shooter updated

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