This document defines an active shooter and outlines characteristics and responses. It begins by defining an active shooter as someone actively killing people in a populated area without a clear victim selection pattern. It describes historic shooters and notes that shooters often have feelings of alienation and persecution. The document outlines characteristics like anti-social behavior, aggression, and relationship issues. It discusses the 5 phases of active shooters and recommends notifying authorities about concerning behaviors. For responses, it recommends evacuating if possible, locking down if not, taking action against the shooter as a last resort, and cooperating with first responders.

1. Active Shooter
A look at the characteristics of and response to
potential active shooters and scenarios
By: SSgt James Bane

2. Outline
 Define Active Shooter
 Historic Shooters
 Characteristics of Active Shooters
 Phases of Active Shooters
 Potential Responses to Shooter situations

3. 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….

4. 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.

5. 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).

6. “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

7. 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
"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.
Information retrieved from Psychology 101:The mind of a shooter, 2007, by Amanda Phillips with Joseph Gasper, Sociologist with Johns Hopkins University

8. 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.

9. 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
If you notice questionable behavior,
 Repeated violation of policies tell your supervisor.
 Talk of domestic/financial problems.
If you perceive an immediate threat,
alert unit security.
Retrieved from ADLS Force Protection (ZZ133079)

10. Similarities Among Historic Shooters
 Exaggerated need for attention and respect
 Rejection and isolation by peers
 Feelings of alienation, bullying and persecution
 Antisocial 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

11. Five Phases of Active Shooters
1. Fantasy
2. Planning The most importance phases for
Prevention!
3. Preparation
4. Approach
5. Implementation 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

12. Potential Responses
 Evacuation
 Lockdown
 Taking action against shooter
(Recommended Last Resort)
 Cooperating with first responders
An active shooter situation may be over
within 15 minutes. In the meantime…
Retrieved from ADLS Force Protection (ZZ133079); Auburn University, 2007

13. 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
…Get Out!
Force Protection (ZZ133079)—Force protection slides were retrieved from ADLS.
Retrieved from ADLS Force Protection (ZZ133079)

14. Lockdown
If evacuation is not possible, you should consider the following…
Find a place where the active shooter is less likely to find you.
 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.
…Hide and Barricade!
Retrieved from ADLS Force Protection (ZZ133079)

15. Take Action (Last Resort/Imminent Threat)
 Acting aggressively against him or her
YouTube Training Session
 Throwing items and improvising weapons
 Yelling
 Committing to your actions
…Take Action!
Information retrieved from YouTube video Last Resort Active Shooter Survival Measures, 2010, by Alon Stivi

16. Cooperate w/ 1st Responders
 Provide the following information:  When first responders arrive:
 Location of the active shooter  Remain calm and follow instructions
 Number of shooters  Put down any items in your hands
 Physical description of the shooter  Raise your hands and spread your fingers
 Number and type of weapons held by  Keep your hands visible
the shooter  Avoid quick movements
 Number of potential victims  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
…Cooperate!
Retrieved from ADLS Force Protection (ZZ133079)

17. Questions
If anyone has questions regarding the material in this briefing,
feel free to contact:
 SSgt James Bane, james.bane@hotmail.com
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

18. 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