Active Shooter and Response on Campus

Otterbein College Security Department

Updated: May 26, 2009

Copyright 2009Copyright 2009

Otterbein CollegeOtterbein College

Not a New Phenomenon

• May 18, 1927 in Bath Township, MI

• School board member Andrew Kehoe upset over property tax increase

• Killed wife and burned his barn before driving to school

• Three explosions leaving 45 dead and 58 wounded

• Still the deadliest attack on a school in U.S. history

Not Unique to the U.S.

• Canada, 1989 – 14 killed, 14 wounded

• Scotland, 1996 – 16 (5 and 6 year old students) and one teacher killed, 15 wounded

• Germany, 2002 – 17 killed, seven wounded

• Beslan, Russia, 2004 – 334 killed, 778 wounded

• Finland, 2007 – Nine killed, 12 wounded

• Finland, 2008 – 10 killed, one wounded

• Israel, 2008 – Nine killed, 11 wounded

• Germany, 2009 – 15 killed, six wounded

• Greece, 2009 – One killed, three wounded

Suspect Matti Juhani Saari, Finland, 2008

Wesleyan University

• May 6, 2009

• Victim Johanna Justin-Jinich had filed harassment charges against suspect Stephen Morgan in 2007, but she declined to follow-up or press charges

• Morgan wrote, “I think it okay to kill Jews and go on killing spree at this school”

• Morgan shot and killed Justin-Jinich at a bookstore near campus

Hampton University

• April 26, 2009

• Suspect, 18, was a former student and walked into residence hall behind a pizza delivery driver

• Shot driver and a residence hall monitor before shooting himself

• All three survived

• Unknown motive

Henry Ford Community College

• April 10, 2009

• Suspect, 28, was a student

• Shot and killed a female student, 20, with a shotgun in the Fine Arts Center

• Shot and killed himself

• Unknown motive

Savannah State University

• November 21, 2008

• Student Devon McIntosh shoots and wounds fellow student over previous dispute

• McIntosh taken into custody after hiding in trunk of his vehicle for five hours

• Many students did not know because they weren’t signed up for emergency alerts through the university

University of Central Arkansas

• October 26, 2008

• Two students killed, one non-student wounded

• Shooting occurred in an alley between the dormitory and the Snow Fine Arts Center

• Four non-students arrested

• Unprovoked and victims were not intended targets

South Mountain Community College

• July 24, 2008

• Suspect Rodney Smith (former student)

• Shots fired in a computer lab

• Three wounded

• Only one victim was targeted

• Police believe it was gang related

Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University

• February 14, 2008

• Suspect Steven Kazmierczak (former student)

• Oceanography class at Cole Lecture Hall (150 to 200 students)

• Shotgun and three handguns

• Fifty four rounds fired (six from the shotgun) in a little under two minutes

• Five killed, 18 wounded

NIU Student Witness Desiree Smith

• “Smith said the gunman was wearing a black beanie or ski cap. She said he aimed initially for one person: the classroom instructor.”

NIU Student Witness Jerry Santoni

• “I saw him shoot one round at the teacher. After that, I proceeded to get down as fast as I could.”

• Teacher wounded

Witnesses to NIU Shootings

Meghan Murphy

• “He stood there for a second and then just started shooting. His face was blank, like he wasn’t a person. He was a statue, aiming.”

John Giovanni

• “He didn’t say a word. It didn’t look like he was aiming directly at someone. I think he was trying to hit as many people as he could.”

NIU Student Witness Lauren Carr

“I could get up and run, or I could die here. A student in the front row was bleeding, but he just kept running. I heard this girl scream, ‘Run, he’s reloading the gun!’”

NIU Faculty Michael Gentile

• Was meeting with two students directly beneath the lecture hall when shooting happened

• Heard gunshots and locked his office door

• Remained barricaded until police arrived about 90 minutes later

• Used surveillance camera just outside his office door to confirm that the people knocking on the door were the police

NIU Student Ashley Dallman

• Was in an acting class in another building when Cole Hall students came running in and informed them of the shooting

• “We all started crying. We didn’t know what to do.”

• Professor locked the doors and they listened to news reports on the radio for about an hour before school official told them to leave

NIU Witness Student Alan Edrinn

• “It was very chaotic. People were definitely in a panic. I saw bodies on the sidewalk. It looked like two people were attending to them.”

NIU Shooter Steven Kazmierczak• 27 year old former NIU sociology

graduate student

• Transferred to University of Illinois

• Well thought of by faculty with no documented history of trouble

• Psychiatric treatment after HS

• Off medication and acting erratically for several weeks

• Died of self-inflicted gunshot

Kazmierczak

• Involved in Student Government

• Honors Student

• Dean’s Award in Sociology in 2006

• Proponent for social justice

Louisiana Technical College

• February 8, 2008

• Female student kills two women in classroom

• Commits suicide in the classroom

Close to Home: Portsmouth, Ohio

Close to Home: Upper Arlington H.S. • May 13, 2008

• Student taken into custody

• Wrote on internet planning a Columbine-style attack

• Teen's threat closes Upper Arlington High

A student at the high school was taken into custody by police yesterday afternoon. He is cooperating with authorities, police said.

The student, who has not been charged, has been released to his parents, city spokeswoman Emma Speight said. She said police have "no concern he has access to weapons at this time.“

Columbus Dispatch 5/14/08

Louisiana State University

• December 13, 2007

• Home invasion on campus

• Two Ph.D. students killed

• Three arrests

Delaware State University

• September 21, 2007 at 1 a.m.

• Suspect Freshman Loyer Braden • Shot two students in the campus café

• One killed

• Motive: Fought one victim the night before

Virginia Tech - April 16, 2007• Cho murders 32 with two handguns • 7:15 a.m. West Ambler Johnston Hall – Hilscher and Clark killed

• Returns to his apartment and reloads

• Leaves to mail pictures and video manifesto to NBC

• 9:45 a.m. Norris Hall murders

• Executions in five classrooms

• Kills 30, then himself

Review Panel RecommendationsMade to VA Governor Timothy M. Kaine

• Critical information sharing obstacles

• Problem of keeping firearms out of the wrong hands

• Improved awareness and communication are key to prevention

• Find help for people with mental illness

• Where we know what to do, we have to be better at doing it

University of Washington• April 2, 2007

• Murder/Suicide

• Victim Rebecca Griego (Staff)

• Suspect Jonathon Rowan

• Protection order late

School ShootingsFebruary, 1996 – February, 2008

www.mibazaar.com/schoolshootings/

Recent Church Incidents

• March 8, 2009 in Illinois

• Suspect Terry Sedlacek, 27

• Fatally shot pastor before stabbing himself

• Two parishioners were stabbed trying to restrain suspect

• Suspect developed a mental illness after contracting Lyme disease

Recent Church Incidents (cont.)

• July 27, 2008 in Tennessee

• Jim Adkisson targeted church because of its liberal teachings

• Two killed, seven others injured in Unitarian church during a children’s play

• Stopped by parishioners who tackled and held him down until police arrived

Recent Church Incidents (cont.)

• December 9, 2007 at 12:30 a.m.

• Matt Murray, 24, wanted to be to be a missionary worker before being turned down for health reasons.

• Killed two at Youth With a Mission, a missionary training facility in Arvada, Colorado

• Two wounded

Recent Church Incidents (cont.)

• Drove 80 miles to Colorado Springs’ New Life Church

• Enters church during services at 1:10 p.m., throwing smoke bombs

• Kills two, wounds three others

• Killed by armed security officer inside church

Recent Church Incidents (cont.)

• March 12, 2005 in Wisconsin

• Parishioner Terry Ratzmann opens fire during service

• Upset about earlier sermon stating people are responsible for their own problems

• Twenty two rounds fired in less than one minute

• Seven killed, four wounded before committing suicide

Shopping Mall Incident

• December 5, 2007 in Omaha, Nebraska

• Suspect Robert Hawkins, 19, kills eight and wounds five others

• Used AK-47 assault rifle

• Had minor criminal record and history of psychological treatment

Nursing Home Incident

• March 29, 2009 in North Carolina

• Suspect Robert Stewart, 45, kills seven elderly patients and one nurse.

• Estranged wife worked at nursing home

• Shooting stopped after Stewart was wounded by the police

American Civic Association Incident

• April 3, 2009 in Binghamton, New York

• Vietnamese immigrant Jiverly Woong kills 13 before committing suicide

• Many people survived by locking themselves in a boiler room

• Wrote a letter blaming the incident on police harassment to local news channel on March 18, and mailed it just before the shootings

Otterbein/Local Incidents 2005-09• Handgun/Assault/Robbery

June 10, 2005Campus Center East Parking Lot

• Handgun Shooting June 25, 2005 25 West Home Street

• Handgun RobberyDecember 23, 2006Dunlap-King Drug Deal

• Handgun RobberyDecember 24, 2006State Street Car Wash

• Knife-Point Robbery January 9, 2007

Main Street at West Street

• Handgun Robbery

May 17, 2007

BMI Credit Union

• Handgun Robbery and Assault

September 27, 2007

St. Ann’s Hospital Parking Lot

• Shotgun Removed from Vehicle

January 8, 2009

Campus Center East Parking Lot

• Aggravated Robbery

February 7, 2009

Campus Center

Planned Local Massacre

• July 25, 2007

• Two teens charged with Delinquency counts of Conspiracy to Commit Arson

• Planned ambush St. Paul’s Church Two restaurants Police headquarters

Planned Local Massacre (cont.)

“They went as far as climbing up the roof of the church and planning where they were going to put the pipe bombs, and figuring out how they were actually going to do this.”

WPD Lt. Tracy Myers

Planned Local Massacre (cont.)

• Plant pipe bombs at the church in the same manner as at Klebold and Harris at Columbine

• Planned to chain the church doors from the inside in the same manner as Cho at Virginia Tech

• Shoot people inside

• Discussed attacking the WPD to kill police officers

Summary of Incidents

“The reality of the situation is – it’s a sad reality, but it’s reality – there are no sanctuaries anymore. We’ve seen this happen in schools, in malls, playgrounds, parks, churches. No place is safe anymore.” Karl Kick, Washington Post

Otterbein must be prepared for this type of crisis!

National Threat Assessment Center

2002

Secret Service Safe School Initiative

Final Report Findings:There is no accurate or useful “profile” of students who

engage in targeted school violence

Potential Violent Behavior Indicators (From VT Panel)

• Violent fantasy content• Anger problems• Fascination with weapons • Boasting and practicing combat

proficiency• Loner• Suicide ideation• Homicidal ideation• Stalking• Non-compliance and disciplinary

problems• Imitation of other murders• Interest in previous shooting

situations• Victim/martyr self-concept

• Strangeness and aberrant behavior• Paranoia• Violence and cruelty• Inappropriate affect• Acting out• Police contact• Mental health history related to

dangerousness• Expressionless face/anaerobia• Unusual interest in

police/military/terrorism activities and materials

• Use of alcohol/drugs

Active Shooter Myths (From Secret Service Study)

1. “He didn’t fit the profile.”2. “He just snapped.”3. “No one knew.”4. “He hadn’t threatened anyone.”5. “He was a loner.”6. “He was crazy.”7. “If only we’d had a SWAT team or metal detectors.”8. “He’d never touched a gun.”9. “We did all we could to help him.” 10. “School violence is rampant.”

Mental Health Issues

• 45% of college students felt so depressed at times it was difficult to function

• 9% had seriously considered suicide

• 1.5% admitted to having attempted suicide

OC Threat Assessment Team

• Vice President for Student Affairs

• College Psychologists

• Associate Academic Dean

• Director of Student Conduct and Wellness

• Director of Residence Life

• Director of Security

• Coordinator of Disability Services

Is Otterbein Prepared?

• Governor’s Task Force

Prevention Response Communication Resources

• Ohio Board of Regents

• Director of Security was on the Task Force

Police Partnerships

• Westerville Division of Police

• Delaware County Tactical Team

Law Enforcement’s Response

Eliminate the Threat Immediately

• Special Training

• One officer response

• Multiple officers response

What to expect?

• Will walk by injured

• Do not approach

• Do not impede their movement

• Have hands in view

• Answer questions

Security Upgrades

• Red Alert Program

• Emergency Notification System

• Internet-based cameras

• Three phases

• All common areas

• Emergency Response Manual, Flipcharts, and joint training exercises with local first responders

Campus Shooter Education

• Phase One: Lecture

• Phase Two: Practical

• Phase Three: Self-Defense

OC Security Transition to Police• Approved by Board of

Trustees on February 7, 2009

• All employees commissioned on February 11, 2009

• Currently developing policies, procedures, and partnerships with local departments

• Tentative date to complete transition is July 1, 2010

• The Department will provide the same services as before

Response Time Concern: Cho

In 5 classrooms

• 170 rounds fired in nine minutes

• 30 killed or 3.3 people killed per minute

• Including the 25 wounded, 6.1 people were shot per minute

• Approximately one person shot every 10 seconds

Southeast LE Training Academy

“Time is our worst adversary in dealing with active killers. We’re racing what I call ‘the Stopwatch of Death.’ Victims are often added to the toll every several seconds.” Ron Borch

Traditional Lockdown

• Has merit, but not a stand alone defense

• Strategy is to secure everyone in a room, turn off lights, cover windows, retreat to a corner of the room and wait for the police to rescue

• The entire strategy depends on the shooter’s inability to get through the door

• It hopes that the police will rescue everyone before the shooter gets to the students and teachers

Traditional Lockdown Concerns

• Limits our natural instinct to get away from danger by running

• Assumes the entire campus is in the same amount of danger

• Trains everyone to “Freeze” – the worst response to directed violence

• Ask a police officer what advice they give their kids if they are being attacked with deadly force

Food For Thought

• School teachers, administrators, and students have no idea what to do should they or their students experience direct attacks from a madman or terrorist. They have no training or plan.

• “Where would it ever be appropriate for a lack of information to exist in life or death situations? No where it seems except it for schools, where the most precious of the country’s assets reside on a daily basis.”

Response Options

Bottom Line

Traditional lockdown is one option, but it does not work when someone is actively

killing teachers and students inside a building or classrooms

WHEN IT HAPPENS…

Trust your safety instincts:

Run

Hide

Attack

WHEN IT HAPPENS…

If you hear gunshots in the area:

Run – Don’t wait for validation

Don’t take anything

Zigzag, if necessary

Communicate while running

WHEN IT HAPPENS…

Hide Option:

Hide / Shelter in place

Call 911

Lock and barricade

Evaluate windows or other escape routes

Survival Mindset:

Forget victim mindset

Become the predator

Gather weapons

Position for attack

WHY BARRICADE THE DOOR?

BUY TIME

Derek O’Dell

VT Survivor

WHEN IT HAPPENS… Window Escape Option:

Open or break window

Evaluate the risk

Will the fall kill or injure you?

Surface / concrete / grass mulch / shrubs

Hang from the ledge to limit fall

Use items to limit the fall; i.e., belts or clothing

WHEN IT HAPPENS…Attack Option: Last Resort

Shooter is in your room and there is no escape

YELL GUN

THROW ITEMS AT HEAD

CHARGE / SWARM

GRAB WEAPON

TAKE DOWN

HOLD FOR POLICE

WHEN IT HAPPENS…Pile On:

LAY ON EXTREMITIES

LAY ON CORE

CONTROL HEAD & NECK

TOSS THE WEAPON

WHEN IT HAPPENS…Shooter Restrained:

Maintain control of shooter until police arrive

Do not let him up

Call 911 and advise

Provide first aid to the injured

Do not pick up the weapon… Unless…

Work With Law Enforcement

• Maintain communication

• Appear non-threatening

• Do not run at officers

• Stay in the room

• Maintain control of shooter

• Sit or kneel

• Hands up / empty

You Can Do This – You Must Do This

Remember – The shooter wants to kill as many as possible and will shoot everyone

in the room unless you stop them

• You have what it takes to survive

• Act as a team – one unit with one purpose

• Act without hesitation

• Do whatever necessary to live

Additional Lockdown Options

• Playing dead

• Run

• Hide

• Attack

• Police response time critical

• Victim action and response time may be more critical

Leadership and Pre-Planning

• Faculty responsibility

• Student responsibility

• Staff responsibility

• Have a plan

• Work your plan

• Take charge

Training Commitment

Trained Response

• Survival Reaction

• Survival Mindset

• Recall Learned Info

• Survival Behavior

• Live / Win

• “WE CAN DO THIS!”

Untrained Response

• Panic Reaction• Denial / Disbelief• Shock / Helplessness• Do nothing / sheep

• “This can’t be happening to me.”

Summary

• Another crisis to prepare for – commit to a plan

• Re-think our approach to campus shooters

• Current emphasis is on prevention – future emphasis must address practical response options

• Traditional lockdown strategies may be useful at times, but do not address a plan if the shooter enters the room

Little to no emphasis exists on training our teachers, children, co-workers…on how to defend against a face-to-face confrontation in which the shooter, or God forbid the terrorist, tries to kill us

Contact Information

Otterbein College Security Department194 West Main StreetWesterville, OH 43081

(614) 823-1222