The 6 Phases of Active Shooter Attacks in Commercial Spaces
Active shooter incidents are a tragic reality in today’s world. They’re in our schools, wreaking the unthinkable. They’re in our public spaces—turning things like parades, festivals, and sporting events from beloved events into living nightmares. Then there are commercial settings, where gun-related incidents are growing the most.
Places like malls, office buildings, warehouses, retail stores, and gas stations are increasingly under attack. According to the National Institute of Justice, 30% of all mass shootings occur at the corporate workplace—making it the #1 location of public mass shootings.
Understanding the breakdown of these moments can help us prepare, respond effectively, and ultimately save lives. Here, we examine the six critical phases of active shooter incidents in commercial environments. Knowing what’s happening and what actions to take can potentially save lives—so commit this information to memory and share it with others.
Phase 1: Pre-Incident Indicators
Recognizing pre-incident indicators is crucial in preventing active shooter incidents in commercial spaces. Awareness of unusual behavior and reporting anything suspicious can make a significant difference in ensuring safety. Early detection and prompt action are key in mitigating potential threats.
Before an active shooter event unfolds, there may be warning signs, such as:
- Behavioral changes: Suspicious behavior, increased aggression, or noticeable changes in demeanor from an employee or visitor.
- Verbal threats: Explicit threats or alarming statements made by an individual.
- Preparatory actions: Observe someone in unusual attire for the weather (e.g., a trench coat on a hot day) or carrying concealed packages.
Phase 2: The Initial Outbreak
The initial outbreak of an active shooter incident triggers immediate chaos and panic. But it’s essential for survival to recognize the urgency of the situation and make quick decisions.
When the shooting begins, the situation rapidly escalates:
- Sounds of gunfire: Loud bangs or popping sounds signal the start of the shooting. It’s crucial to recognize these sounds immediately.
- Panic and chaos: People will naturally panic—screaming, running, and rushing to find cover or escape.
- Immediate decisions: Based on their proximity to the shooter and available escape routes, victims must quickly decide whether to run, hide, or fight.
Phase 3: Immediate Response
In this phase, quick and decisive action is crucial. Assessing the situation rapidly and determining whether to run, hide, or fight can significantly impact your chances of survival. Your immediate response can make all the difference in ensuring safety for yourself and others.
- Run: If there’s a clear path to safety, run. Leave belongings behind and help others escape if possible.
- Hide: If running isn’t an option, find a place to hide. Lock and barricade doors, turn off lights, and remain silent. Silence cell phones and any other noise-making devices.
- Fight: As a last resort, if confronted by the shooter, commit to your actions and attempt to incapacitate the shooter using any available objects as weapons.
Phase 4: Law Enforcement Engagement
When law enforcement arrives, their primary goal is to neutralize the shooter. It’s crucial to stay calm, follow their instructions, and provide any useful information if it’s safe to do so. Keeping your hands visible and cooperating fully will aid in the resolution of the situation.
When law enforcement arrives, their primary goal is to neutralize the shooter:
- Follow instructions: Always keep your hands visible and follow officers’ instructions.
- Provide information: If safe, give officers any useful info about the shooter’s location, description, and weapons.
- Stay calm: Understand that officers may not immediately know who the shooter is. Stay calm and cooperative.
Phase 5: Post-Incident Procedures
Once the immediate threat is over, the focus turns to recovery. Ensuring the injured receive medical attention, following evacuation protocols, and reuniting with loved ones become the primary concerns. Cooperation and staying informed are essential during this phase.
After the shooter is neutralized or escapes, the focus shifts to recovery:
- Medical attention: First responders will prioritize treating the injured. Provide assistance if you’re able.
- Evacuation: Follow law enforcement instructions for evacuation. Be prepared for a controlled and methodical process.
- Reunification: Authorities will establish safe locations for reunification with family and friends.
Phase 6: Long-Term Recovery
Long-term recovery after an active shooter incident focuses on emotional and psychological healing—and physical, for those with permanent physical injuries.
Some things happening now:
- Counseling services: Seek professional help to deal with trauma. Many organizations provide counseling services for survivors.
- Community support: To help process the event, lean on support systems, including family, friends, and community groups.
Be Prepared
Understanding the breakdown of active shooter incidents in commercial settings can help you and your teammates prepare and respond effectively. Awareness, quick decision-making, and proper training are crucial in mitigating the impact of these tragic events. Here’s what you can do now to help everyone stay nimble…
- Preparedness training: Get involved in training programs to better prepare for potential future incidents.
- Implement safety protocols: Establish and regularly review safety procedures within your organization to ensure everyone knows how to respond during an emergency. Check out these helpful tips for emergency response planning.
- Leverage advanced technology: Utilize innovative security measures to enhance early detection and response capabilities, keeping your environment safer.
Can You Prevent These Incidents?
This is a huge topic—from psych to tech and far more—that could easily turn this post into hundreds of pages, so we’re sharing what we do best to help prevent gun-related incidents…
We’re the industry expert for AI-powered, human-verified visual gun detection solutions to prevent and respond to active shooter incidents, making public spaces safer for everyone.
Here’s what we do and how we do it…
A.I. Commercial Threat Detection Solution
ZeroEyes is a proactive, complementary solution to your emergency response plan that both mitigates liabilities and supports your Duty of Care responsibilities. If a weapon is brandished within the surveillance of our A.I. gun detection for commercial security, your organization’s emergency response plan is strengthened by:
- Decreasing response times
- Leading people to evacuation points
- Directing first responders to precise locations
- Marshaling people to safe zones
- Locking down buildings
We work with corporations of all sizes across virtually every industry—a proven technology approach to true, actionable information that can help protect staff and customers in an emergency.
Learn more about gun violence in commercial business settings and what you can do about it: Get the Gun Violence Research Center’s proprietary report, “The Real Cost of Gun Violence,” and share it with your security team.
Big News for Small Businesses
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