Run, Hide, Fight – Reacting to an Active Shooter

Active shooter situations occurred in Bryan and Austin in recent weeks, as well as the tragedies in Boulder, Atlanta and Indianapolis. Many of the younger Capitol staffers said after the January 6 Capitol breach that they knew what to do because of the active shooter drills they had done all throughout their school years. Many older adults however did not experience these drills in school. They may not know what to do if they ever find themselves in an active shooter situation. The FBI created an easy-to-remember message, Run, Hide, Fight, to prepare people for this terrible scenario.

Children are taught a different version of what to do in their school drills, with many districts using the standard protocol of “locks, lights, out of sight.”

Run

Memorial City Mall suffered a smash and grab crime in December 2019. Many shoppers heard the sound of the hammer breaking glass and thought it was gunshots. Social media posts from people onsite reflected both the run and hide steps the FBI recommends.

It is important to have situational awareness whenever in a public place. This means identifying where exit doors are and taking note of anyone or anything that seems out of place. If gunshots are heard or a gunman is seen, the first goal should be to get away, or RUN.

• Head toward the closest exit or the exit that is most easily accessible and in the opposite direction of the gunshots.
• Leave your belongings behind. You don’t want anything to slow you down.
• If you can help people along the way, guide them and get them out of the location as well.
• If you pass people who are unaware of the situation and heading toward the danger, yell at them to run away.
• Once you are safe, call 911 to report what is happening.

Hide

If you cannot safely get out of the building or area where the shooter is, the next best option is to hide. At Memorial City Mall during the incident, many stores took employees and customers to stockrooms and dressing rooms and locked the doors. They also locked the storefront to keep the shooter away. Whenever possible, hide somewhere that can be locked. Darken the room and barricade the door if needed. Find a spot that would be shielded from bullets. Silence any devices that might make noise and give away your location. Stay in your hiding place until law enforcement arrives or you are otherwise alerted (with certainty) that it is safe to come out.

Fight

If you cannot run or hide and you are in danger, your last resort is to fight. At this point it is just about survival for you and others who are in the vicinity. You want to distract the shooter, create confusion and strike when they are most vulnerable if possible. Make a lot of noise to create a feeling of chaos and knock the shooter off balance.

Jeff Butler, a former Navy SEAL and CIA officer, told CNN the best time to attack is during a reload. Find whatever weapon you can, like a chair, computer monitor or tool and go after the shooter with the most strength and force you can muster. If you can get close enough to swing at them, do so. Otherwise you can throw something at them to try to take them down. You are trying to inflict bodily harm, stop the shooting and help as many people as possible (including yourself) make it out alive.

Access the Department of Homeland Security’s booklet with this information and more about active shooters here. Local Active Shooter Defense resources are here.

The FBI’s video outlining Run. Hide. Fight. is below.  TRIGGER WARNING: graphic content