ACTIVE SHOOTER
Malls, markets, and schools—we expect to go to these places to stroll, shop, relax, or learn in environments that are relatively secure. One of our great freedoms is to go about our daily lives without fear. However, think about the 1999 Columbine High School shooting that killed fifteen, or the 2005 Tacoma, Washington, mall shooting that wounded seven, or the 2007 Westroads Mall incident in Omaha, Nebraska, with nine dead, or the Virginia Tech massacre in that same year when thirty-two died, or the 2011 slaughter of sixty-nine innocents at a Norwegian youth camp.
THE JULY 2012 MASS SHOOTING AT THE CENTURY MOVIE THEATER IN AURORA, COLORADO
Over 300 people went to see a midnight screening of the film The Dark Knight Rises. Of those, fifty-eight were wounded and twelve never left the theater.
I am aware of the vast and varying opinions regarding guns and gun control. That said, imagine if just one person in the theater that night had had the required training and was carrying a properly permitted concealed weapon. This senseless horror happened in my own backyard, so forgive me for playing armchair quarterback and taking the scenario one step further: I’m at the theater when James Holmes opens fire. Two seconds later I’m returning accurate fire toward the muzzle flashes. You don’t have to be a Navy SEAL to do this, you just have to step up—wouldn’t it have been some shock to this killer if he found the “video game” he was playing in his mind started shooting back? GAME OVER.
Some will argue that more guns would cause more devastation. Well, it doesn’t get much more devastating than a psycho with over one hundred and fifty rounds shooting at a mass of innocent people at point-blank range.
Given all these incidents, one thing can be said about the people who do this: they are similar only in their intent to kill. Their motivation to commit these acts might be a personal vendetta, or to further a political or religious agenda, or some psychological disorder—so stay alert, because the shooter could be anyone, anywhere.
The paramilitary or trench coat garb that is often used to conceal weaponry, of course, is not by any means the preferred look of an “active shooter.” The Virginia Tech murderer wore a maroon hoodie and a gray hat. The Norwegian shooter donned a police uniform. He actually called out to the fleeing students, identifying himself as a police officer. He then gunned down those who ran in his direction believing they were heading to safety.
Police and SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) divisions of law enforcement units refer to this crime while it’s under way as an “active-shooter incident.” In most cases, the perpetrators of these attacks pick “soft targets,” with the full intention of having unrestricted access and time to claim as many victims as possible before they are captured or gunned down. A “soft target” generally refers to any public place where there are large groups of people (predominantly young adults, women, and children) and little or no security, such as malls, markets, and schools. These targets are unprepared for defense against individuals with massive firepower who have the sole intent to kill and cause mayhem.
Examining the psychology of these assailants might lead to the ability to spot such personality types before they get a chance to carry out their murderous schemes, but this won’t help you to survive if you happen to be involved in an active-shooter incident. Once these shooters are engaged, reasoning with them or attempting to talk them into surrender is frequently fruitless.
Despite the above list of carnage, many prefer to live by the “this won’t happen to me” way of thinking. Unfortunately, those people are usually among the list of the latest victims on the nightly news. Step up—be prepared!
Response Time
Ten minutes and thirty seconds—that’s the national average time it takes a police officer to show up at the scene after a high-priority 911 call is received. In the Virginia Tech shooting, for example, thirty-two people were already dead within minutes, and the police weren’t even notified until fifteen minutes after it began. In many larger cities, including Los Angeles and New York, there are full-time officers assigned to SWAT operations. Yet, statistically, it takes them approximately twenty to thirty minutes to get to the scene. In smaller municipalities, it’s often the case that officers who are regularly assigned to other departments are trained for active-shooter incidents. It can take forty-five minutes or longer for these units to respond. Nearly 99 percent of the time, these critical situations are handled by regular patrol officers before SWAT ever gets there. This is why it is your response time and what you do that really count.
Situational Awareness: Exits, Cover, People
When you’re going to a mall or market, or even during your first days of class at a new school, make a mental note of exits. Have at least three options, preferably in three different directions. This could be as obvious as a double-door entry or as desperate as a second-floor window with a ten-foot drop onto pavement. Second, observe the whereabouts of any large items or objects that seem sturdy enough to provide cover, if needed, and file this information. In some malls, for example, there may be a lounge area with furniture, or sculptures, or columns that are placed at regular intervals. In a school, are the desks bolted to the floor? Do the windows open? Filled bookshelves in a library or the cooking and dishwashing equipment in a cafeteria will provide very good cover. Third, look around at the people you pass while in public places or when you’re among crowds. If you’re at a mall, pay special attention to individuals who don’t seem to have the demeanor of the average shopper, and to individuals carrying large bags, such as duffel bags, or wearing unseasonably heavy clothing. Keep an eye on people who seem particularly nervous or who are sweating. Watch individuals wearing military-style boots or clothes that seem out of place. Many times, these shooters imagine themselves as members of some type of militia or are military imitators, and could be wearing army boots or fatigues, though they are clearly identifiable as someone not on active duty.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS CHECKLIST for entry of a soft target:
Find your exits.
Locate places or objects that could serve as your nearest cover.
Observe individuals who are dressed strangely, acting abnormally, or carrying something suspicious.
Trust your gut.
Once a Shooting Begins
People who have never heard the sound of gunfire often compare it to the sound of a car backfiring or a loud firecracker. But the discharge of a firearm in a closed environment, such as a mall or a classroom, is distinct and will leave no question that an assault of a deadly nature has begun. And as your ears begin to ring, you must understand that what you do in the first few seconds of this event will determine if you live or die. Some think that gunfire produces the smell of burning sulfur or gunpowder, like the odor at a fireworks display. However, modern ammo uses smokeless powder and is virtually odorless. Of all your senses, initially trust your ears in this scenario—the sound of gunfire is unmistakable.
REVERSE 911
Many cities are now using Reverse 911, a mass notification system to text information about an emergency in progress. In an active-shooter incident, students and parents would be alerted via text message, sent from local law enforcement. Students would be specifically instructed to lock the doors, turn off lights, lie on the ground, and stay put. Check to see if your local area, or those places you’re visiting, have this set up and opt in to make sure you get the information you need.
Step 1: Get Off the X
You must remove yourself from the immediate vicinity of the source of the gunfire, which is referred to as the kill zone or the X, and do so without hesitation. In tactical terms, it’s essential to get out of the line of fire during any lethal encounter or if engaged in a self-defense shooting incident. Simply put, you must do whatever it takes to get clear of the kill zone and find cover if you expect to have any chance of survival or retaliation. If you survive the first ten seconds of this type of ambush, you have a much better chance of making it out alive.
FIGHT, FLIGHT, FR
EEZE
In many shootings, bystanders who freeze are added to the casualty toll. Do not freeze or burrow in—react and move immediately.
In order to get off the X, move! When a shooting occurs in a public place, the natural and initial response is to use the flight instinct, but you must do it with forethought. Nevertheless, you must move! There is little time to think, but it’s best to make your flight a calculated one, so you don’t turn yourself into a more visible and attractive running target. By scrambling in panic, you could end up going nowhere worthwhile, or even going closer to the line of fire. This flight must be for the purpose of getting clear of danger—off the X—and not flagging your position. Usually, you’ll instinctively move in a route away from the shooter, preferably in a direction that is opposite from his or her focus.
Hitting the floor and lying flat is usually the first thing people do instinctively, but don’t just cover your head and hope for the best. You must begin moving immediately while staying low. If you are able to dive for one of the objects you earlier identified as cover, make that move now. Get to your cover while staying as low as possible, and do it with maximum purpose.
HOW TO TELL WHERE GUNFIRE IS COMING FROM
In a closed environment, and depending upon the proximity of the shooter, you cannot trust your ears to determine the direction of gunfire. Gunfire will cause a deafening echo, and you might be hearing what the bullet has hit rather than where it came from. Since smokeless gunpowder is used in modern ammunition, the best way to determine the shooter’s location is to look for muzzle flashes. These emanate only from the weapon and clearly tell you to move in the opposite direction.
MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES
Generally you will use the low crawl method, which involves pushing with your toes and pulling with your fingers, inch by inch if necessary, keeping you flat to the floor and out of range.
When you see the opportunity, you might use what’s called the high crawl, lifting your belly only inches from the floor and moving on your knees and elbows.
COVER VS. CONCEALMENT
Cover is defined as something that will stop bullets, such as a concrete wall or a large potted plant. Concealment may hide you, but it will not stop bullets. For example, if you’re outdoors, a rock is cover, while in contrast, a bush offers concealment. In a shopping mall, a rack of clothing could be used for concealment. Whatever you choose as cover or concealment, avoid bunching up with too many people. In these circumstances, people huddled together will create a larger and more attractive target; a single bullet can penetrate several people.
GET FARTHER FROM THE X
After you’ve found initial cover, you’ll want to still continue to move away from the shooter, going from cover to cover. Make a visualization of the path you will take; this will help you to set your mind to achieving small goals or little victories, as each move takes you farther from the X. For example, you see a potted plant fifteen feet away. Your goal is to make it to that point, and thus you gain one more little victory in the overall plan to escape. Once you make it to that secure cover, you follow your path, determined to get to the next goal point. At first, get between covers by making small bounds. As you gain distance from the shooter, you can increase the distance you travel between covers. You must start by low-crawling, but note that the farther away from the shooter you are, the faster you can move, until even sprinting if the situation warrants it. With assault rifles having a maximum effective range of six hundred meters, or six football fields, and with sniper rifles even hitting targets much farther, you should always remember that if you can hear gunfire, you can be shot. You must continue to act with maximum purpose and calculated caution.
BULLET PENETRATION
The three most common weapons used in an active-shooter situation are a handgun with nine-millimeter rounds; an AK-47, or similar weapon, which uses a 7.62 x 39 millimeter round; or a twelve-gauge shotgun with 00 buckshot. Bricks, concrete, medium-to-large trees, or several layers of wooden boards will stop all of the above rounds from penetrating. However, the typical wall of a house or apartment (made of plywood, two-by-four-inch studs, and drywall) will not. Neither will the aluminum body of a car. In a mall, for example, the usual potted plants have concrete containers that will effectively stop the aforementioned ammunition. A mailbox will not. In SEAL team, when we needed to take cover behind a vehicle, we tucked behind the wheels. The tires at the front end of the car are better, since the engine block and axles provide additional fortification and make it a good cover.
DECOYS
Sometimes, simply tossing an object, such as a coin, in the opposite direction from your path will divert the typical nervous shooter. When he turns his weapon in that direction, use this time to traverse the danger crossing. If available, a fire extinguisher can be activated and rolled toward the shooter. Use the safety pin in the handle to keep the trigger engaged by positioning it vertically, or wedge a hard credit card in the handle space. This will keep the extinguisher’s foam in a constant discharge, which will serve as an excellent smoke screen.
DANGER CROSSINGS
Even when places have numerous objects that afford cover or concealment, your escape route will often have open spaces, like hallways, that must be crossed. These junctions, while you are still in the line of fire, are called “danger crossings.” If you come upon a danger crossing, take a moment to discern a pattern in the shooting and try to move when there is a pause in the gunfire. This will generally happen when the weapon is being reloaded, and it will give you a few seconds to move without taking fire. While preparing your body to make this move, use the combat breathing technique we discussed earlier. You can do this—now you have the skills!
MOVING IN A SHOOTING ENVIRONMENT
You have cleared the kill zone, but there is still a good chance that you’ll be shot at. Maintain a lower profile (slightly hunched over, with your weight over the balls of your feet). Continue to move from cover to cover. Utilize shadows or “dead space” areas that are obstructed from view. The sniper walk is a good technique when stealth while moving from the X is required. This is done by staying in a crouched position with the body kept low and using heel-to-toe steps.
Stay a foot off the walls. When a bullet hits and ricochets off a wall, it tends to travel down the wall within approximately six inches of it. If you are against the wall, you will get hit.
Once you have successfully cleared the kill zone, you need to quickly decide the best way to either gain the greatest distance from the shooter or ultimately exit the building. Now, remember where you saw the main exits. Fire-exit doors in many public buildings are required by law to be at the rear of the building, or at the back of each store in malls.
Continue to move, but take no chances because the shooter could be following you. Put as many obstacles between you and danger as you can—for example, close doors as you go or tumble merchandise to the ground, making it harder for the shooter to trail you if that is their intention.
If, and only if, you feel that you are at a location of relative, short-term safety, gather yourself. When you are in a defensive position that is well hidden and away from the site of the shooting, take a moment to calm yourself and keep your mind alert. Now is the time for the next phase of survival.
Step 2: Regroup and Regain Focus
You’ll naturally think, “What the hell just happened?” But don’t ponder this. It will not be of immediate help to wonder about the assailant’s motives. Regain focus through your combat breathing. Recall the image you made as your trigger and focus. The calmer you are, the better equipped you’ll be to outthink your assailant.
Step 3: Self-Assessment
Once you’ve regained your clarity, now is the time for a secondary type of situational awareness: the self-assessment. First check yourself for wounds. If you have made it this far, you are probably not critically injured. Existent breathing and a heartbeat rule out serious injuries, but many times, in great stress, people will be injured a
nd not know it. Do a quick head-to-toe self-assessment, paying particular attention to bleeding and fractures, and treat yourself, if required. If you can, take a quick drink of water.
Next take an inventory of the resources that you still have at hand that could help you further. Is there anything that can break a window, for example, or something to act as a portable shield? Is there a vending machine or a water cooler nearby so you can get some nourishment? You have just been through strenuous physical activity and could require significantly more effort until you are safe. Things to consider:
• Clothing: Remove excess or brightly colored clothing, and accessories you don’t need (coat, purse, shiny jewelry, etc.).
• Equipment: Look around for anything that could . . .
Seal Survival Guide Page 5
