Much of what the public thinks it knows about mass killers is wrong.
“There is no profile,” said Lt. G.P. Hughes of the North Carolina Central University(NCCU) Police. “While most are male, they range from young to senior citizens and come from all races.”
Hughes spoke to students and staff the evening of Feb. 12 at the C.T. Willis Commerce Building about what to do if an active shooter shows up.
Mass killers do share some qualities.
“They are typically very volatile,” Hughes said. “In life, they have become extremely unstable. Many exhibit bullying tendencies. And many will kill themselves when confronted by police.”
Mass attacks are most likely to occur in a place of business, followed by the outdoors, then schools. Since 1999 when shooters attacked students and staff at Columbine High School in Colorado, law enforcement strategies have evolved.
“The tactics at that time were, when someone is shooting somebody inside a building, lets surround it, contain it and call in the SWAT team,” Hughes said. “The problem is, killing is going on.”
Nowadays, when a mass attack occurs, law enforcement responds in waves. First is a contact team which goes toward the sound of gunshots and aims to stop the threat. A second wave follows to help people escape or treat those injured.
If a shooter shows up – most mass killers are shooters, although both mass knife and vehicle attacks have occurred – Hughes has three pieces of advice.
In order of priority:
RUN
“People go into denial,” Hughes said. “’It sounded like a gunshot. But it certainly can’t be a gunshot.’ Don’t wait for validation. Don’t take anything.”
He advises thinking about escape routes ahead of time and also about nontraditional exits such as windows or even jumping from a second floor. When safe to do so, call police.
HIDE
“If you can’t run, hide,” Hughes said. “Gather weapons of opportunity such as water bottles, cell phones, backpacks, etc. If you pelt someone with a backpack, that will change behavior. Get behind cover.”
If possible, barricade the entrance, perhaps with a piece of furniture. Turn off lights and silence cellphones.
FIGHT
If all else fails, be ready to fight. “Most active shooters, it is an individual,” Hughes said. “If ten people jump on the bad guy or throw items, it changes behavior.”
Hughes described how these options worked during the shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007, where 32 people were killed and 17 injured.
In one classroom, a 76-year-old instructor (also a Holocaust survivor) held the door shut while he yelled at his student to escape through a window. All but one student survived, although the instructor was killed.
In another classroom, where students and faculty did nothing, everyone was killed or wounded.
“Doing nothing is a death sentence,” Hughes said.
