Active Assailant: What to do when it happens

For incidents involving an active assailant with a weapon, every situation is different. You'll have to quickly evaluate the situation and choose the best course of action. If you become aware of an active assailant, you have three options: RUN, HIDE, or FIGHT.

If you become aware of someone in your building who has a weapon and is shooting or threatening to harm others:

  • Get out of the building immediately if you can do so without putting yourself in harm's way. Leave your belongings behind.
  • Notify anyone along the way to get out.
  • Take shelter in another building or leave campus if your are able to safely do so.
  • Keep your hands up and out of your purse or pockets if you encounter the police.
  • Call Public Safety at 941-359-7500 or dial 9-1-1 when it is safe to do so.

If you are unable to leave the building:

  • Lock yourself inside of a room and move furniture in front of the door.
  • Cover the windows and turn off any lights.
  • Silence your mobile device(s).
  • Do not answer the door for anyone.
  • Ignore any fire alarms as it may be a trick to draw people into the open.
  • Call Public Safety at 941-359-7500 or dial 9-1-1 when it is safe to do so.

As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, try to disrupt or take down the shooter, preferably with one or more persons to "swarm" the assailant.

  • Act as aggressively as possible while trying to disarm the assailant.
  • Throw items at the shooter.
  • Yell.
  • Look for items that can be used as weapons against the assailant.
  • Stay committed to your actions!

 
  πŸ“ž Emergency πŸš¨ (941) 359-7500
  πŸ“ž Non-emergency (941) 309-4121
  βœ‰οΈ publicsafety@ringling.edu