How can you stay safe during an active threat situation at the University of South Florida. What are the key steps to take if you encounter an armed individual on campus. How should you respond if fleeing is not an option during an active shooter incident.
Understanding the Importance of Active Threat Preparedness
Recent tragic events at educational institutions have highlighted the critical need for comprehensive emergency preparedness. The University of South Florida (USF) recognizes this necessity and has implemented extensive training programs for its police force to effectively respond to active threat incidents. However, the role of community members in such situations is equally crucial.
Why is active threat preparedness so important? In the face of unexpected danger, having a clear understanding of appropriate actions can mean the difference between life and death. By familiarizing yourself with proper response protocols, you significantly increase your chances of survival and potentially help others in the process.
Immediate Actions: Contacting Authorities and Assessing the Situation
When faced with an active threat situation, your first priority should be to alert the authorities. How should you go about this?
- Dial 9-1-1 immediately if you witness an armed individual on campus.
- Be prepared for potential delays, as emergency lines may be overwhelmed during such incidents.
- If possible, designate only one person per room to make the emergency call to avoid flooding the system.
While contacting authorities is crucial, it’s equally important to quickly assess your surroundings and determine the safest course of action. This leads us to the next critical decision: whether to flee or shelter in place.
Evacuation Strategies: When and How to Flee Safely
Fleeing the area can be the best option if it’s safe to do so. However, how do you determine if evacuation is the right choice?
- Assess whether there’s a clear and safe path to exit the building.
- Do not attempt to flee if the shooter is between you and the exit.
- If unsure about the safety of evacuation, it’s better to stay put and secure your location.
If you decide that evacuation is possible, follow these guidelines:
- Move quickly and quietly away from the shooting scene.
- Once outside, put as much distance as possible between yourself and the incident.
- Keep your hands visible, preferably on your head or open in front of you, especially when encountering law enforcement.
- Follow any directions given by police officers, who may guide you to a specific collection point.
It’s crucial to note that pulling the fire alarm is not recommended during an active shooter situation. Why? This action may inadvertently provide the shooter with more opportunities to cause harm by forcing people into open areas.
Sheltering in Place: Securing Your Immediate Area
If evacuation is not a safe option, your next best strategy is to secure your immediate area. How can you effectively shelter in place during an active threat?
- Lock all windows and doors in your vicinity.
- Turn off lights and close blinds to reduce visibility.
- Silence all electronic devices, including cell phones, radios, and computer monitors.
- If safe to do so, guide everyone to get on the floor and out of the line of fire.
- Maintain calm and quiet among those sheltering with you.
- Seek adequate cover behind solid objects like concrete walls, thick desks, or filing cabinets.
Communication during this time is critical. Place signs on exterior windows to identify the location of any injured persons. This information can be vital for first responders when they arrive on the scene.
Awaiting the “All Clear” Signal
Once you’ve secured your location, it’s crucial to remain in place until you receive an “all clear” instruction. But how can you be sure the instruction is legitimate?
- Only respond to instructions given by a recognized or authorized voice.
- If you don’t recognize the voice giving instructions, maintain your secure position.
- Be aware that unfamiliar voices may be attempts to lure people out of safe locations.
Confronting the Unthinkable: If the Shooter Enters Your Area
In the most dire circumstances, you may find yourself face-to-face with the active shooter. While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to this scenario, understanding your options can be life-saving. What should you consider in this extreme situation?
- If possible, try to alert others and call 911, but only if it’s safe to do so.
- Use your best judgment. In some cases, remaining quiet and still may be the safest option.
- Attempting to negotiate with the shooter is generally not recommended and can be extremely dangerous.
- As an absolute last resort, and only in the most extreme circumstances, attempting to overcome the shooter with force might be considered.
Remember, there may be multiple active shooters. Stay vigilant and prepared for various scenarios. It’s also important to avoid making changes to the scene of the incident, as law enforcement will need to investigate the area thoroughly afterwards.
Critical Information: What to Report to Authorities
When communicating with emergency services or law enforcement, providing accurate and detailed information is crucial. What specific details should you report?
- Your exact location: Include the building name, floor, and specific room or office number.
- Number of people: Report how many individuals are with you at your location.
- Injuries: Provide information on the number of injured people and types of injuries sustained.
- Assailant details: Share as much information as possible about the shooter(s), including:
- Location
- Number of suspects
- Race and gender
- Clothing description
- Physical features (height, weight, facial hair, glasses, etc.)
This information can be invaluable to first responders and can significantly impact the effectiveness of their response.
Enhancing Campus Safety: Ongoing Training and Preparedness Initiatives
The University of South Florida is committed to maintaining a safe campus environment through continuous improvement of its safety protocols and training programs. How does USF ensure its community is prepared for potential threats?
- Regular active threat preparedness training sessions for staff and students.
- Ongoing specialized training for campus police officers in responding to active threat incidents.
- Frequent review and updates of emergency response protocols based on latest best practices and lessons learned from incidents nationwide.
- Collaboration with local law enforcement agencies to enhance coordinated response capabilities.
By participating in these training initiatives, members of the USF community can significantly contribute to overall campus safety. These sessions provide valuable knowledge and skills that can be applied not only on campus but in various real-world situations.
The Role of Technology in Emergency Response
In today’s digital age, technology plays a crucial role in emergency preparedness and response. How is USF leveraging technology to enhance campus safety?
- Implementation of a campus-wide emergency alert system that can quickly disseminate information via text, email, and social media.
- Installation of security cameras and access control systems in key areas of the campus.
- Development of mobile apps that provide quick access to emergency procedures and contact information.
- Utilization of mass notification systems to provide real-time updates during emergencies.
While these technological tools are invaluable, it’s important to remember that they complement, rather than replace, individual preparedness and awareness.
Building a Culture of Safety: Community Involvement and Awareness
Creating a safe campus environment extends beyond formal training and technological solutions. It requires the active participation and awareness of every member of the USF community. How can individuals contribute to campus safety?
- Stay informed about campus safety procedures and emergency protocols.
- Report suspicious activities or behaviors to campus security or local law enforcement.
- Participate in safety drills and exercises organized by the university.
- Engage in open discussions about safety concerns and potential improvements with peers and university officials.
- Take personal responsibility for your safety by staying aware of your surroundings and having a plan for various emergency scenarios.
By fostering a culture of safety and preparedness, the USF community can significantly reduce the risk of incidents and improve its collective ability to respond effectively in crisis situations.
The Importance of Mental Health Support
In discussions about campus safety and active threat preparedness, it’s crucial not to overlook the importance of mental health support. How does mental health factor into campus safety?
- Early identification and support for individuals showing signs of distress can prevent potential incidents.
- Providing accessible mental health resources for students, faculty, and staff.
- Fostering a supportive community that encourages seeking help when needed.
- Offering counseling and support services for those affected by traumatic events or ongoing stress.
By prioritizing mental health alongside physical safety measures, USF creates a more holistic approach to campus security and well-being.
Adapting to Evolving Threats: Continuous Improvement in Safety Protocols
The landscape of campus safety is continually evolving, with new challenges emerging as technology and societal factors change. How does USF ensure its safety protocols remain effective in the face of these evolving threats?
- Regular review and update of emergency response plans based on the latest research and best practices.
- Collaboration with other universities and law enforcement agencies to share knowledge and strategies.
- Incorporation of lessons learned from incidents at other institutions to improve local protocols.
- Ongoing assessment of potential vulnerabilities in campus infrastructure and security systems.
- Adaptation of training programs to address new types of threats and scenarios.
This commitment to continuous improvement ensures that USF’s approach to campus safety remains robust and relevant in an ever-changing world.
The Role of Technology in Threat Detection and Prevention
As threats evolve, so do the technologies available to detect and prevent them. How is USF leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance campus safety?
- Implementation of AI-powered surveillance systems for early threat detection.
- Use of data analytics to identify patterns that may indicate potential security risks.
- Exploration of biometric access control systems for sensitive areas of the campus.
- Development of anonymous reporting systems that allow community members to safely report concerns.
While these technological advancements offer powerful tools for enhancing safety, it’s important to balance their use with privacy considerations and ethical guidelines.
Empowering the Community: Education and Training Beyond the Campus
The skills and knowledge gained through active threat preparedness training have value that extends far beyond the university setting. How can USF community members apply these lessons in their daily lives?
- Developing a heightened awareness of one’s surroundings in all environments.
- Applying critical thinking and quick decision-making skills in various emergency situations.
- Sharing knowledge with family, friends, and colleagues to improve overall community preparedness.
- Advocating for safety measures and emergency preparedness in other organizations and communities.
By empowering its community with these valuable skills, USF not only enhances campus safety but also contributes to the broader goal of creating safer communities everywhere.
Fostering Leadership in Safety and Security
USF’s commitment to safety and security extends to developing future leaders in this critical field. How does the university nurture leadership in campus safety?
- Offering specialized courses and programs in emergency management and public safety.
- Providing internship opportunities with campus security and local law enforcement agencies.
- Encouraging student involvement in safety committees and initiatives.
- Recognizing and rewarding innovative ideas for improving campus safety.
By fostering leadership in this area, USF ensures a continuous pipeline of skilled professionals dedicated to enhancing safety in educational institutions and beyond.
Your Safety, Active Threat Information
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Schedule An Active Threat Preparedness Training
Events of the past years have called attention to the need to be prepared for a wide
range of emergencies. The tragedies at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Virginia Tech, Aurora,
and Sandyhook have caused campuses across the country to reassess their level of preparedness.
Our police department has for many years conducted training for our officers on responding
to an active threat incident. We continue extensive on-going training for a response to these types of incidents.
The awareness and preparedness of members of our community is equally important. We
present this information for your use and distribution.
If you witness any armed individual on campus at any time, immediately contact the
Police Department via 9-1-1. In the event of an active shooter incident, please consider
taking the following actions:
Active Threat Training – Click here for open sessions
Contact Authorities:
- Use emergency 9-1-1 system (only one person per room).
- Be aware that the 9-1-1 system will likely be overwhelmed.
Flee the building if safe to do so:
- If it is possible to flee the area safely and avoid danger, do so. Do not attempt
to flee if the shooter is between you and the exit. If you are unsure, do not attempt
to flee. - Once outside get far away from the shooting scene and contact the Police Department.
- If you encounter Police Officers as you leave the building they may direct you to
one collection point. - Keep your hands visible (on your head or showing open in front of you).
- Do not pull the fire alarm, it will provide the shooter with more opportunities to
cause harm. - Contact the police via 9-1-1.
If you are unable to flee the building secure your immediate area or move to a safe
area if possible:
- Turn off all the lights and close blinds, lock all windows and doors.
- Turn off radios and computer monitors.
- Silence all cell phones.
- If you can do so safely, get everyone on the floor and out of the line of fire.
- Keep everyone calm, quiet and out of sight.
- Take adequate cover/protection (i.e. concrete walls, thick desks, filing cabinets).
- Place signs on exterior windows to identify the location of injured persons.
- Stay in your secure location of the building until an “all clear” instruction is given
by an authorized or known voice. - If the staff or students do not recognize the voice that is giving instruction, they
should not change their status. Unknown or unfamiliar voices may be false and designed
to give false assurances.
Unknown or unfamiliar voices may be false and designedIf the shooter enters your class or office:
- There is no one procedure that can be recommended in this situation.
- Attempt to get the word out to other staff if possible, and call 911 if that seems
practical. - Use common sense. If hiding or flight is impossible, remain quiet. Attempting to negotiate
with the individual may be very dangerous. - Attempting to overcome the individual with force is a last resort that should only
be initiated in the most extreme circumstances. - Remember, there may be more than one active shooter.
- Be careful not to make any changes to the scene of the incident since law enforcement
authorities will investigate the area later.
What to Report:
- Your specific location: building name, floor and office or room number.
- Number of people at your specific location.
- Injuries: number injured and types of injuries.
- Assailant(s):
- Location
- Number of suspects
- Race/gender
- Clothing description
- Physical features (height, weight, facial hair, glasses, etc.)
- Type of weapons (long gun or hand gun)
- Backpack
- Shooter’s identity, if known
- Do you hear explosions separate from gunfire?
Police Response:
- The Police objective is to immediately isolate/engage assailant(s) to stop the shooting
as soon as possible. - Remain calm; do as the officers tell you.
- Put down bags/packages and keep your hands visible at all times.
- If you know where the shooter is, tell the officers.
- The first officers will not stop to aid injured persons.
- Rescue teams will follow the first officers into secured areas to treat and remove
injured persons. - Investigation will follow.
Active Threat | Emergency Management
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An active assailant is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to
kill people in a confined and populated area; in most cases there is no pattern or
method to their selection of victims. The event is unpredictable and evolves quickly.
How you can prepare:
- The USF Police Department and Emergency Management provide active threat training.
- Have a plan and always be aware of your surroundings.
- In an active threat situation remember to Run, Hide, or Fight.
Active Threat Training
Events of the past years have called attention to the need to be prepared for a wide
range of emergencies. The tragedies at Virgina Tech, Aurora, and Sandyhook have caused
campuses across the country to reassess their level of preparedness. Our police department
has for many years conducted training for our officers on responding to an active
threat incident. We continue extensive on-going training for a response to these types
of incidents.
The awareness and preparedness of members of our community is equally important. We
present this information for your use and distribution.
If you witness any armed individual on campus at any time, immediately contact the
Police Department via 9-1-1. In the event of an active threat incident, please consider
taking the following actions:
Contact Authorities:
- Use emergency 9-1-1 system (only one person per room).
- Be aware that the 9-1-1 system will likely be overwhelmed.
Flee the building if safe to do so:
- If it is possible to flee the area safely and avoid danger, do so. Do not attempt
to flee if the assailant is between you and the exit. If you are unsure, do not attempt
to flee. - Once outside, get far away from the incident scene.
- If you encounter Police Officers as you leave the building they may direct you to
one collection point. - Keep your hands visible (on your head or showing open in front of you).
- Do not pull the fire alarm: it will provide the assailant with more opportunities
to cause harm. - Once you are safely out of harm’s way, contact the police via 9-1-1 if you have information
to provide about the situation.
If you are unable to flee the building, secure your immediate area or move to a safe
area:
- Turn off all the lights and close blinds, lock all windows and doors.
- Turn off radios and computer monitors.
- Silence all cell phones.
- If you can do so safely, get everyone on the floor and out of the line of fire.
- Keep everyone calm, quiet and out of sight.
- Take adequate cover/protection (i.e. concrete walls, thick desks, filing cabinets).
- Place signs on exterior windows to identify the location of injured persons.
- Stay in your secure location of the building until an “all clear” instruction is given
by a law enforcement official. - If you do not recognize the voice that is giving instruction or suspect it is not
a member of law enforcement, you should remain in place. Unknown or unfamiliar voices
may be false and designed to lure you out of hiding.
If the assailant enters your class or office:
- There is no one procedure that can be recommended in this situation.
- Attempt to get the word out to other staff if possible, and call 911 if that seems
practical. - Attempting to overcome the individual with force is a last resort, but if it is your
only option, you must fight with the goal of separating the weapon from the attacker. - Focus on these three goals to be successful when defending yourself against an attacker: 1) position yourself
by the door the threat is entering, 2) grab the weapon when the threat enters the
doorway, and 3) FIGHT.
What to Report:
- Your specific location: building name, floor and office or room number.
- Number of people at your specific location.
- Injuries: number injured and types of injuries.
- Assailant(s):
- Location
- Number of suspects
- Race/gender
- Clothing description
- Physical features (height, weight, facial hair, glasses, etc. )
- Type of weapons (long gun or hand gun, knife, etc)
- Backpack
- Shooter’s identity, if known
- Do you hear explosions separate from gunfire?
)Police Response:
- The Police objective is to immediately isolate/engage assailant(s) to stop the threat
as soon as possible. - Remain calm; do as the officers tell you.
- Put down bags/packages and keep your hands visible at all times.
- If you know where the assailant is, tell the officers.
- The first officers will not stop to aid injured persons.
- Rescue teams will follow the first officers into secured areas to treat and remove
injured persons. - Investigation will follow.
90,000 Shootings in public institutions in the United States in 2014-2015 90,001 90,002 2015 90,003 90,004 On December 2, in California, in the city of San Bernardino, a shootout occurred, an unknown person opened fire in the Inland regional center, which provides assistance to people suffering from mental disorders.
On November 27, an attacker opened fire at a family planning center in the American city of Colorado Springs. As a result of the incident, three people died, including two civilians. Nine people were injured and injured – five policemen and four civilians. The shootout with the police lasted for four hours.
On November 23, in New Orleans, USA, two unidentified men near Bunny Friend Park, where about 500 people participated in the filming of a music video. The incident occurred after a party that followed a brass band parade. At least 16 people were taken to the hospital.
On November 20, a firearm shooting occurred in a suburb of Las Vegas, one person died. Shots were fired as the young man was leaving the Mojave High School building. He died from his wounds.
On the night of November 16, there was a shooting in downtown Washington. A woman was arrested as a result of the shooting.
On November 9, a shooting took place in Hawthorne, California, near a shopping complex, resulting in one death and one injury.
On November 9, in New York, shots were fired from a fast food restaurant near the Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan, as a result of which one person died and two more were injured.
November 6, an unknown person opened fire on passers-by in the American city of Plainfield (New Jersey) and. The shooting resulted in the death of one man and the injury of a six-year-old girl and her aunt. The attacker managed to escape.
On October 28, as a result of a shooting in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, one person was killed and another was injured.
On October 17, an unknown assailant opened fire at the ZombieCon festival in Fort Myers, Florida. One person died and four others were injured. The victims were sent to the hospital with injuries that did not pose a threat to life.
On October 12, two people were killed in a shooting on a street in the US city of Hartford, Connecticut.
On October 11, three people were killed in a shooting in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, USA. law enforcement officers arrived at the scene after eyewitnesses called the police and reported that they had heard shots. Two men and one woman were killed in the shooting.
On October 3, a shooting incident occurred near a store in Baltimore. As a result of the incident, one person died on the spot, four more were injured.
On the morning of October 1, an unidentified gunman shot nine people at a college in Rosberg, Oregon. The attacker died in a shootout with the police. The media, citing a law enforcement source, reported that the attack was carried out by 26-year-old Chris Harper Mercer, who was a student at the college where he committed the massacre.
On September 16, eight people were injured in a shooting in Kansas City, Missouri.
On September 14, geography teacher Shannon Lamb opened fire on the campus of Delta University, killing a university employee, history professor Ethan Schmidt. After the shooting, Lamb managed to escape in a car and later committed suicide.
On September 4, one person died and two were injured during a shooting on the campus of a college in Sacramento, California.
On August 28, several shots were fired on the campus in the American city of Savannah (Georgia). One student died in the shooting. The suspect was arrested.
On August 26, former WDBJ employee Wester Flanagan opened fire on colleagues filming a report in Monita, Virginia. Reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward died at the scene from their injuries. After a police chase, Flanagan shot himself and was admitted to a local hospital in critical condition. He later passed away.
Then it became known that the killer left a suicide note in which he stated that what happened was a response to the shooting in the church in Charleston and to “racial discrimination” of himself.
On August 23, an unidentified man opened fire on the participants of a party dedicated to the end of the X-Fest music festival in Modesto, California, one person was killed and seven more were injured. According to the preliminary investigation, several people were waiting in line at the building where the party was taking place when an unknown black man, heading to a nearby parking lot, took out a weapon and started shooting. The man managed to escape from the crime scene.
On August 19, a shooting in Rochester, western New York killed two people and injured five. The incident took place on Wednesday evening near the building of the public organization Boys and Girls Club.
On August 9, one person was wounded in a shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, USA, near a memorial for black Michael Brown, who was shot dead a year ago by a white police officer.
On August 5, an unidentified person opened fire in a cinema in the suburbs of the American city of Nashville (Tennessee), as a result, three people received minor injuries. The police arrived at the scene and eliminated the attacker. According to local authorities, the man was armed and had an ax in his possession.
Shooting took place at Camp Shelby in southern Mississippi on August 4-5. In the first case, fire was fired, presumably, on the soldiers during their training at the facility, the next day, shots into the air were reported. No one was injured as a result of the shooting. The shooter was arrested by the police.
On July 23, the shooting at the Grand Theater took place 20 minutes after the screening of the film “Girl Without Complexes” began. The shooting was opened by an elderly white man, who then committed suicide. According to police, two spectators were killed in the shooting, and nine more people were injured. The shooter turned out to be 59-year-old John Houser from Alabama.
On June 17, a white man opened fire on members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Nine people were killed in the shooting.
On May 31, a visitor opened fire at a liquor store in the US state of Georgia. The man quarreled with a store employee over an unpaid bill, and a few hours later he returned to the store with an automatic rifle and opened fire. As a result of the shooting, one of the store visitors died on the spot, the seller was injured. Later it became known about the death of the seller. After shooting at the store, the man returned home and opened fire on his parents, injuring both. The police arrived at the scene, and the man also started shooting at them. The policeman returned fire and the attacker was killed.
On May 26, a man opened fire at a Walmart store in Grand Forks, North Dakota. As a result of the shooting, two people were killed, including the shooter, and another was injured.
On April 28, shooting occurred near one of the churches in New York during a funeral service, as a result, two people died, four more were injured of varying severity.
On April 13, an unidentified gunman opened fire at Wayne Community College in the American city of Goldsboro (North Carolina). One person died.
On April 10, a shooting took place at the headquarters of the US Federal Census Bureau, a security guard of the agency was seriously injured. According to police, a security guard for the bureau, whose office is based in Suitland, Maryland, pursued the suspect until he was shot in the chest.
On March 31, a man opened fire at a medical center in Fresno, California, killing two people. According to police, the man quarreled with his wife, who was there. The police officers who arrived at the scene heard the sounds of gunshots, entered the building, where they found the bodies of the dead.
On March 31, a shooting took place in a hospital in Falls Church near Washington. The shootout involved the criminal Wassen Assaye, who was in the hospital under the supervision of a private security company. He attacked the guard and seized his pistol.
On March 29, two people were injured in a shooting at a nursing home in the US state of Colorado. The incident took place in Jefferson County. According to police, the man shot his wife and then wounded himself.
On March 12, one person was killed in a shooting that took place in the Washington subway. The incident happened at the Potomac Avenue station in the southeastern part of the capital. First, it became known that an unknown person was on the tracks. After the police arrived at the scene, shots rang out. After the lines were de-energized, rescuers found the body of one person there.
On February 15, a shootout took place in a supermarket in Iuka, Mississippi. One person died and a police officer was injured.
On February 5, a shooting occurred on the campus of the University of South Carolina in the state capital of Columbia. Two people died. The shooter who killed one person then shot himself.
On January 20, a man opened fire indiscriminately at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
After that, he shot himself. The doctor later died after being shot twice by the man. According to the police, the man who shot the man was not a patient of the doctor, and the motives for the crime are unknown.
On January 17, an unidentified gunman fired inside a restaurant complex located in a large shopping center in Melbourne, Florida. As a result, one person was killed and two others were injured. The killer shot himself.
On January 11, a man opened fire in various places in the city of Moscow, Idaho, USA, as a result, three people were killed and one was injured. First, he shot his adoptive mother, after which he went to the office of the insurance company, where one person died as a result of the shooting there, and another was injured. He then went to a nearby diner, where he shot the manager. After that, the man tried to escape, but was detained by the police.
2014
December 1 in West Virginia, suspect Jody Lee Hunt fired three shots and killed four people.
Two shots were fired in suburban Arlington County, and another shot was fired in Monongalia County. Hunt’s body was found in the forest, the man committed suicide.
On November 29, 31-year-old Marcus Dee opened fire at a crowded Chicago Nordstrom shopping center during Black Friday before committing suicide. Later it turned out that the young man tried to shoot his girlfriend. The girl was seriously wounded, she died the next day.
On November 20, an attacker opened fire on the Florida State University campus. Two people were injured as a result of the shooting. The police detained the attacker, his motives were not reported.
On November 4, near the Delaware State University dormitory in the state capital Dover, an unidentified gunman opened fire and wounded one person in the parking lot.
On October 24, an incident occurred at an American school in Marysville, Washington. Armed with a pistol, 14-year-old Jaylin Freiberg entered the school cafeteria and opened fire.
As a result of the attack, one person died on the spot, seven were injured of varying severity, two of them died in the hospital. The attacker himself shot himself.
On September 30, a shooting took place at Fern Creek School in Louisville, Kentucky, one person was injured.
On September 30, an unidentified gunman fired at a school in the city of Albermarle, North Carolina, one of the students was wounded.
On September 28, in a nightclub in the American city of Miami (Florida), an unknown person opened fire, as a result of which 15 people, including one minor, were injured, NBC reports. According to police, 15 people were injured in the shooting. One of the victims was 11 years old.
On July 12, one priest died and another was injured in a shooting in one of the churches in the US city of Phoenix. According to city police spokesman Sergeant Steve Martos, the message about the incident at the Mother of Mercy Mission Church was received by the rescue service at about 21.
00 local time (08.00 Moscow time). When the police arrived, they found that two priests had been attacked. One of them subsequently died in the hospital.
On the night of July 12, a shooting took place in Chicago, USA, in a parking lot near a Baptist church. Because of the holiday, there were many people in and around the church. As a result of the shooting, two people were killed and 18 injured. Police believe the perpetrator was a 47-year-old man who got into an argument with two parishioners. After a quarrel, the man disappeared, and then returned and opened fire on those gathered from the window of a moving car.
On July 5, a man opened fire on people inside the Houston Caribbean Festival in the US city of Houston, Texas. At that moment, several thousand people were inside the building. Four people were injured.
On June 10, one student died in a shooting at a school in Oregon (USA), and a teacher was wounded. The alleged shooter was killed. Also, another weapon was found at the crime scene and one suspect was arrested.
On June 6, a shooting occurred on the campus of a university in the US city of Seattle. One of the wounded during the shooting died, four people were injured as a result of the shooting.
On the night of May 24, in the US state of California, an unknown man in a BMW opened fire on people in the Isla Vista area. As a result of the shooting, six people were killed and seven others were injured. The suspect was later found shot to death in his car. The shooting was opened by the son of Hollywood director Peter Roger, 22-year-old Elliot Roger. As the lawyer noted, earlier Elliot’s relatives warned local authorities about their son’s behavior, but the police did not find a threat to society in his behavior. Before the incident, a video called “Elliot Roger’s Retribution” was posted on YouTube, in which the young man stated that this video would be his last and that “retribution” would take place tomorrow and he would “kill any person he met on the streets of Isla Vista.
On May 13, an unknown person opened fire near a school in the city of Atlanta in the US state of Georgia, five schoolchildren were injured. The shooting did not take place on the territory of the school, but the school building was cordoned off for several hours. School students were injured, but their injuries were not serious.
On April 11, a man and a teenager were injured in a shooting outside an elementary school in the US city of Columbus, Ohio.
On February 10, a student at a school in the US city of Salisbury, North Carolina, was injured in a shooting in the school gym. The victim was taken to the hospital with a non-life-threatening injury. The incident happened after classes were over. There were two attackers, they fled the scene.
On January 31, unidentified gunmen opened fire in the courtyard of the Cesar Chavez school in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. About 15 shots were fired during the school basketball competition, which was attended by more than two hundred people.
According to the police, no one was hurt.
On January 25, a shooting occurred on the campus of the University of South Carolina in Orangeburg, USA, as a result of which a student was wounded, who later died from his injuries. There were four attackers, all of them managed to escape.
On January 21, one person was killed in an attack by an armed man on the grounds of Purdue University in the US state of Indiana. An armed man deliberately shot a man in the auditorium of one of the university buildings and surrendered to the police.
On the night of January 14, a man died in a shooting at a cinema in the American city of Wesley Chapel in Florida. A man and his wife were watching the movie “Lone Survivor” in the cinema. One of the spouses was talking on the phone, which irritated another visitor to the cinema. A quarrel ensued, and the shooter opened fire.
Shooting America. The most notorious cases of mass shootings in the USA
October 29, 2018, 11:43
Shootings in the USA
Cases of mass shootings in the USA can hardly be called a rarity: such incidents occur monthly and invariably cause a wide public outcry.
For decades, Washington has been debating whether restrictions on the proliferation of small arms are acceptable, or, on the contrary, it is necessary to eliminate all barriers to the acquisition of guns and thereby provide more Americans with the means of self-defense. In the meantime, politicians are trying to negotiate among themselves, massacres (also known as “shooting”, from the English shooting, “shooting”) continue.
I. Violence with Elements of Terrorism
• Washington Snipers
In October 2002 in Washington DC and Maryland and Virginia for 22 days 10 people were shot dead from sniper weapons, three received wounds. On October 24, “Washington sharpshooters” John Allen Muhammad (born John Allen Williams), 42, and his adopted son, Lee Boyd Malvo, 17, were arrested.
Muhammad, who converted to Islam in 2001 and joined the Muslim Nation of Islam organization, planned to kill “six white Americans” daily for a month and carry out several terrorist attacks on schools and children’s clinics.
After that, the sniper expected to receive a $10 million ransom from the US government for ending terror and use this money to set up a camp for homeless children in Canada to later use them as terrorists.
Muhammad was sentenced to death (and executed on November 10, 2009), Lee Boyd Malvo was sentenced to life imprisonment.
• Shooting at the parade
On May 12, 2013, unidentified persons shot the participants of the parade in New Orleans (Louisiana), dedicated to Mother’s Day, which is celebrated in the United States on the second Sunday of May. 19 people were injured, including seven women and two children.
According to witnesses, there were three shooters, but in the end only two young people were arrested – brothers Sean and Akin Scott. Immediately after the attack, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) declared that it was not a terrorist attack. “This is a common act of street violence in New Orleans,” said local FBI spokeswoman Mary Beth Romig.
A year after the incident, the charges of attempted murder were dropped from the shooters – they were tried only for illegal possession of weapons and drugs.
• ISIS in San Bernardino
On December 2, 2015 in San Bernardino, California, criminals opened fire in the conference room of a center for people with disabilities when a party for government employees was taking place on the premises. 14 people were killed and 17 others were injured. Police pursued and blocked the car of two suspects, 28-year-old Saeed Farouk and his wife, 27-year-old Tashfin Malik. As a result of the shootout, the man and woman were neutralized.
Before committing the crime, Teshfin Malik declared her loyalty to the leader of the Islamic State terrorist organization Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi on the social network Facebook.
• Orlando shooting
On June 12, 2016 in Orlando, Florida, a shooting at a gay nightclub called Pulse killed 50 people and injured 53 others.
According to police, the shooting was carried out by a lone criminal, 29-year-old American Omar Mateen, the son of immigrants from Afghanistan. He was eliminated during the storming of the building by law enforcement forces.
IS claimed responsibility for the attack. It is known that the shooter was a follower of the radical Imam Abu Tabah (Marcus Duane Robertson), who in his sermons called for the killing of gays. At the same time, at least five people associated with the LGBT community told the US media that Omar Mateen was known to them as a regular at the Pulse bar and a user of gay dating apps.
• Las Vegas tragedy
On September 28, 2017, 64-year-old retiree Stephen Paddock opened fire from a window on the 32nd floor of the hotel at a music festival that was held about 400 meters from the hotel and entertainment center. complex Mandalay Bay (“Mandalay Bay”) in Las Vegas. As a result, 58 people died and 489 were injured.
This incident was the largest mass murder in modern US history.
Paddock committed suicide before the police broke into his room. The FBI believes that the man was not associated with terrorist groups, although the Islamic State immediately after the tragedy said that Paddock was following her orders.
© TASS/YouTube
II. Shooting in schools and universities
• “School shooting”
what did he kill himself . As it turned out, the boy, who grew up in a dysfunctional family (his father committed suicide, his mother was an alcoholic), was depressed due to constant bullying at school.
On December 14, 2012, in Newtown, Connecticut, 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot and killed his mother at home. Then on the same day, he killed 20 children between the ages of five and seven, six adults and wounded two at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Then he committed suicide. Lanza suffered from Asperger’s Syndrome (a mild form of autism characterized by poor socialization). The motive for the crime has not been established.
After the Sandy Hook shooting in Utah, an 11-year-old boy was arrested – he brought a gun to school, fearing a repeat of the tragedy in Connecticut. Later, a schoolboy was arrested, who planned to shoot his classmates and film it. It was assumed that in light of these events, teachers in the United States might be allowed to come to work with weapons. However, this measure was never adopted – schools, colleges and universities are still “gun-free zones”.
• University homicides
April 16, 2007 at Blacksburg Technological University in Virginia 23-year-old South Korean student Cho Sen Hee shot 32 people and wounded 25 before shooting himself.
Two years earlier he had been diagnosed with progressive schizophrenia.
However, according to state law, he had the right to buy firearms, since he was not in compulsory treatment.
On February 14, 2008, in DeKalb, Illinois, Northern Illinois University graduate Stephen Kazmirzak opened fire in one of the classrooms at the university. As a result, five students died and 15 were injured. Kazmirzak shot himself.
The motive for the crime is unknown. Teachers and fellow students knew Stephen as a talented student, winner of scientific awards and human rights activist.
• College shooting
On October 1, 2015, a man opened fire at a college staff and students in a laboratory building at Umpqua College (near Roseburg, Oregon), killing nine people and injuring seven others. wounds. The suspect, 26-year-old Chris Harper Mercer, was shot and killed by police officers who arrived at the scene. According to eyewitnesses, the perpetrator forced some of the students to say who they are by religion, and shot at those who answered that they were Christians.
• Parkland shooting
On February 14, 2018, a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, USA killed 17 people and 14 others were hospitalized. The criminal, Nicholas Cruz, turned out to be a former student of the school, who had previously been expelled for violation of discipline.
The incident sparked a new wave of teenage activism for tougher gun laws and against the gun lobby.
© TASS/YouTube
III. Temple massacres
• Sikh fire
On August 5, 2012, six parishioners were shot dead and ten people were injured at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.
According to police, the shooting started around 10:30 local time (19:30 Moscow time), about half an hour before the start of the service. From the account of eyewitnesses it follows that the priest, who was at the entrance to the building, was the first to fall at the hands of the criminal.
After that, the shooter proceeded inside and opened fire on the parishioners, who were waiting for the beginning of the morning prayer.
40-year-old Wade Michael Page, who opened fire, committed suicide after being shot by a police officer. Page, formerly of the U.S. Army’s Psychological Warfare Special Forces, was a racist leader of a punk band called End Apathy.
• Shooting in Charleston
On June 17, 2015, a white man opened fire with a pistol at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. As a result, nine black parishioners were killed, including a church pastor and a state senator. On June 18, the alleged shooter, 21-year-old Dylan Roof, was arrested in Shelby, North Carolina. According to the authorities, he committed the crime motivated by racial hatred.
During the investigation, the young man confessed that he held racist views and hoped that his actions “would start a war” between whites and blacks.
In about 60 photos he posted on social media, Ruf often posed with the Confederate flag, which was used by southern slave states to fight northerners during the American Civil War from 1861-1865.
In January 2017, Ruf was sentenced to death, in April of the same year his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment without the right to parole.
© Obama sings at the funeral of pastor Clement Pinckney, shot dead in Charleston church
• Texas church shooting
November 5, 2017 26-year-old De Vin Kelly opened fire at First Baptist Church in Southerland Springs, state of Texas. At around 11:30 local time (19:30 Moscow time), he entered the temple and started firing at the parishioners. 26 people were killed and 27 others were injured. The attacker was later found dead in the car.
The shooter previously served in the US Air Force from 2010 to 2014, but was disgraced from the military in disgrace. Texas police believe that the cause of the tragedy in the church could be a family conflict.
• Synagogue shooting
On October 27, 2018, 11 people were killed in a shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During a shootout with police officers who arrived on the scene, the attacker, 46-year-old Robert Bowers, was wounded and taken into custody. In total, six people were injured in the incident, including four police officers.
Prosecutors have charged Bowers with felony and religious hate crimes, which together could lead to the death penalty.
IV. Military Base Shootings
• On November 5, 2009, psychiatrist Major Nidal Malik Hasan (Palestinian American) shot and killed 13 and wounded 30 fellow soldiers and two civilians at Fort Hood, Texas. During the detention, he received several wounds, as a result of which he was paralyzed.
The tragedy occurred at the medical center for the examination of military personnel before being sent to Afghanistan and Iraq. At the trial, Hasan stated that religious beliefs pushed him to the crime – he considered the war “an unjust thing” and tried not only to avoid participating in it, but also to protect his brothers in faith. In August 2013, he was sentenced to death.
• On September 16, 2013, in Washington, D.C., at the Navy Yard, where the US Naval Operations Headquarters is located, former military reservist Aaron Alexis opened fire, killing 12 people and injuring more than ten. He himself was killed in a shootout with police. According to experts, the offender suffered from paranoia.
• On April 2, 2014, three people died and 16 were injured as a result of shooting at the Fort Hood military base. The shooter, soldier Ivan Lopez, committed suicide. In 2011, Lopez fought in Iraq and allegedly suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.
• On July 16, 2015, a shooting near the US Naval compound in Chattanooga, Tennessee killed four Marines and injured three people, including a police officer and another Marine.
