1. Response to Active Shooter Events
Presented by J. Pete Blair, Ph.D.
Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT)
Texas State University

2. Outline Disaster Response Psychology
Defining and Identifying Active Shooter Events (ASE)
Civilian ASE Response
Policy

3. The background science of how people behave in high stress events
Disaster Response
The background science of how people behave in high stress events

5. Three Stages of Disaster Response
Denial
Deliberation
Decisive Moment
Ripley, A. (2008). The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes And Why. New York: Three Rivers Press.

6. Denial
When in a disaster, many people do not admit that is a disaster or underestimate the severity
It is common for people to delay taking action
This delay costs time and lives
So why do people do it?
Normalcy Bias
Social Proof

7. Denial Normalcy Bias We expect things to be like they always are
A new situation is not expected
The brain will first try to describe the new situation as a normal one
It takes time and data for the brain to recognize that we are not in a normal situation

8. Denial Social Proof (also linked to diffusion of responsibility)
In novel or ambiguous situations we look to others for information on how to act
If others are doing nothing, you will tend to do nothing
If others are acting, you will tend to act

9. Denial/Deliberation

10. Deliberation
Once people have moved past the denial phase, they enter the deliberation phase
You must decide what to do
This is a problem
Your brain is probably not functioning well because of the stress

11. Deliberation: Your Brain
C System
X System
RefleCtive
Thinking brain
Flexible
Rational
Slow
RefleXive
Reacting Brain
Fixed
Emotional
Fast

12. Deliberation Stress Response Physiology
Adrenaline is dumped into the bloodstream
Heart and breathing rates increase
Blood is shunted to the large muscles and essential organs
Cortisol is dumped into the blood – constricts blood vessels
Blood pressure spikes
You are stronger, faster, and will bleed less

13. Deliberation Stress Response Side Effects
Your C brain is seriously impaired
Vision narrows
Auditory exclusion
Time distortion

14. Deliberation
When your C system is shut down, you are left with your X system
The default X system responses are
Fight
Flight
Freeze
These are pretty good responses – but unfocused

15. Deliberation

16. Deliberation

17. Deliberation So what do we do? Keep your C system functioning longer
Try to calm yourself
Combat breathing
Shift your emotion
Use your C system to program your X system
Think through likely events and responses to them before a disaster
Practice your actions

18. Decisive Moment Once a decision is made It is time to act
So act! – With purpose!

19. Active Shooter Events

20. Active Shooter Event Definition
An active shooter event involves one or more persons engaged in killing or attempting to kill multiple people in an area occupied by multiple unrelated individuals.

21. The Shooter There is no set “Profile” Mindset Deliberate, Focused,
Uncaring - Detached
Coward - Bully
Many kill themselves when confronted by the police

22. Characteristics of AS Situations
Event happens quickly
Can happen anywhere
Post offices
Businesses
Schools
Military bases
Churches
Hospitals

23. Signs of an ASE Hear or see gunshots
Bodies on the floor / bloodied victims
Lot of yelling, screaming, praying, disbelief, denial
People running and hiding

24. Fort Hood, TX (2009)
1 Shooter
12 Killed
31 Injured

25. Reliable Metals, AL (2009) 1 Shooter Started by killing his family
Went mobile shooting random people
Ended up at his former employer
Committed suicide
10 Dead

26. Edmond, OK Post Office (1986)
Postal Employee
Killed 14
Wounded 6
Killed Himself

27. Columbine Video – 13 Killed – 21 Wounded

28. Mumbai – at least 172 Killed

29. Number of Deaths The number of deaths is affected by two factors
How quickly the police respond
How quickly the shooter can find victims
ALERRT trains police how to respond quickly
We are training you now to slow the rate at which the shooter can find victims

30. Response

31. Denial Need to get past this phase as quickly as possible
If you hear gunshots of something that could be gunshots, act as if it is an active shooter
Go straight to deliberation

32. Deliberation 3 options based upon 2 of the X system basic responses
Flight
Avoid
Deny
Fight
Defend
Freeze – Always the wrong choice

33. Deliberation The event will happen very quickly
You will not have time to develop new plans
You must plan in advance
If you do not have a plan beforehand the delay in deciding what to do may cost you and others their lives
Failure to plan is planning to fail

34. Deliberation The Basic Plan Avoid the confrontation
Deny access to your location
Defend yourself

35. Avoid Be vigilant/aware Know escape routes for your location Exits
Windows
Stairwells
Decide to leave at the first opportunity and report

36. Deny Lock doors Barricade access points Door stops Furniture
Rope doors closed
Cover interior windows
Darken the room
Go back into Avoid mode
Need to add more options to this based on age of students. Grade school kids vs college students. Give teachers options and ideas

37. Defend The Active Shooter is trying to kill you!
If you can’t flee, you must fight!
Use a “pack” mentality
Swarm the shooter
Do not stop
Use whatever weapons you have
Attack weak spots (Throat, eyes, groin)

38. Defend
Get as close as you can to the access point before the shooter enters
Try to get a hold of the gun and get it pointed away from people

39. Defend
Hiding
There are very few things that will stop a bullet in most locations
Still think we need to talk about the difference between rifles and pistols and bullets

40. Defend Have a survivor’s (not a victim’s) mindset
Decide right now that your are going to do whatever it takes to survive
Getting shot does not mean that you are dead
The fact that you are still alive after the impact means that there is a good chance you will survive
You can and must keep going!

41. People Shot and Killed at VT
Room 206 – The shooting started here. Shooter walked in and started killing people. He left and returned later to shoot more people.
Room 211 – Teacher heard shots told student to call Students attempted to block door with desk. The shooter pushed his way in, shot the professor and walked down the aisle killing students. The shooter returned later and shot more students.
Room 207 – Second room attacked. Shooter walked in and shot several students and the teacher. He then walked down the aisles shooting students. The shooter left. Shooter attempted to return. Students used their bodies to barricade the door. Shooter got door 1 inch open. Also fired several shots into the door knob area. No one was hit by these shots.
Room 204 – Professor Liviu Librescu (a holocaust survivor), held the door shut when the shooter tried to enter. Librescu yelled at his students to jump out of the windows. Shooter shot Librescu through the door, killing him. 10 students made it out of the windows before shooter got in. Two more were shot trying to get out (both survived). Of the 6 who did not get out, 4 were shot and one of those shot died.
Room Students heard the shots and used their their feet to keep the door closed. The shooter pushed on and fired through the door, but never gained entry.

42. When Police Arrive Uniformed and plain clothes – multiple agencies
Primary Goal – Stop the Killing
Priority of work
Find and confront the shooter
Will NOT stop to help the wounded
Will NOT escort people out
Help the wounded
Clear people from the building

43. When the Police Arrive Understanding the POLICE point of view
The situation will be chaotic
They do not know who is a victim or suspect
They will treat everyone as a suspect until proven otherwise
Officers will be experiencing high stress, just like you

44. When the Police Arrive Respond Appropriately
Follow commands (You might be handcuffed)
Keep your hands visible at all times and show your palms
Do not move or move slowly if you must

45. Personnel Issues This will be a traumatic event Expect mental trauma
Shock
Nightmares
PTSD
Survivor’s guilt
You need a critical incident stress management plan

46. Policy

47. Model ASE Policy
Our organization places the highest priority on the preservation of the lives of our employees and customers. If an active shooter event should occur, our employees shall use the Avoid, Deny, Defend model.
If it is safe for them to do so, employees should exit the facility immediately to AVOID the shooter(s).
If employees are unable to safely exit the facility, they should lock themselves in their current location and barricade the door to DENY the shooter(s) access.
In the event that employees are unable to utilize the AVOID and DENY strategies successfully, they should DEFEND themselves using whatever means are available.
Regardless of the option(s) utilized, employees shall call emergency services (911) as soon as it is safe to do so.
In the event of an active shooter incident, all employees will be required to undergo mandatory mental health counseling.

48. Questions?
Pete Blair, Ph.D. or