An active shooter is a person who appears to be actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area -- typically using firearms.
Active shooter overview
Active Shooter
In some cases active shooters use other weapons and/or improvised explosive devices (IED) to cause additional victimization and an impediment to law enforcement and emergency services responders. There may be no pattern or method to their selection of victims.
These situations are dynamic and evolve rapidly, demanding immediate deployment of law enforcement resources to stop the shooting and reduce harm to innocent victims.
Hostage or barricaded subject situations often take place over a longer period of time and usually there is no ongoing injury or loss of life. These situations are often managed through the deployment of specialized units, as time allows. Both hostage and barricaded subject situations can rapidly shift to active shooter situations and vice versa.
Criminal Activity
Call The IUPD at 911 from a campus phone if you feel threatened or observe a crime in progress. Do not approach or attempt to apprehend person(s) involved.
Report information, including:
- Direction of travel when last seen
- Location
- Physical and clothing description
- Vehicle description, license plate number
- Weapons or tools involved
- What the person is doing
If you believe you are safe, stay on the phone with the police dispatcher until instructed otherwise.
Active Shooter Recommendations
The following recommendations are all options to be considered and should not be thought to be sequential. Select the best course of action according to the situation in which you find yourself.
- RUN
- If a safe path is available, run
- Always try to escape or evacuate even if others insist on staying
- Encourage others to leave with you but don’t let their indecision slow down your escape
- Try to prevent others from entering the danger zone.
- Keep your hands visible for law enforcement
- Call IUPD from either a non-campus phone or 911 from a campus phone to report the incident and description/location of shooter(s)
- HIDE
If you can’t escape, find a place to safely hide and be silent
- Turn out lights, close window blinds/curtains, lock doors if possible and silence your cell phone ringer and vibration mode
- Barricade doors and windows if able to with furniture and other objects
- Stay low to the ground but don’t sit down; be prepared to move
- Gather items to use for self-defense
- Identify other methods of evacuating should the opportunity to escape occur (other doors, stairwells or windows)
- Render first aid to the injured if safely able to do so
- If unable to evacuate, remain in place until the “All Clear” is released through IU-Notify or by law enforcement in the area
- If safe to do so, call IUPD and report your location. If shooter is in the area and able to be heard, call and keep the line open for dispatchers to listen
- FIGHT
- As a last resort, act with aggression and use improvised weapons to distract and/or disarm the shooter
- Throw objects at the shooter’s head – aim for their eyes
- Work together as a team if others are present
- Upon use of a distraction device, immediately attempt to escape or take down the shooter
- Commit to action as your life is at risk
- Remove the weapon from the shooter’s reach and safely hide it – do not handle it because law enforcement may perceive you to be a threat
- If taking down the shooter, immobilize all limbs (arms, legs, head) until law enforcement arrives
Under all circumstances, if you decide to flee during an active shooting situation, make sure you have an escape route and plan in mind. Do not attempt to carry anything while fleeing; move quickly, keep your hands visible, and follow the instructions of any police officers you may encounter. Notify authorities of the location of wounded people as soon as possible. Do not try to drive off campus until advised it is safe to do so by police or campus administrators.
The "Run, Hide, Fight" actions recommended in an active shooter event are not sequential actions. “Run” is viewed as the best option since you’re getting away from the incident. “Hide” is the second best option, and lastly “Fight” is your third option. The key, separate yourself from the incident if at all possible, and do what YOU need to do to protect yourself whether it means hiding or fighting.
Ken Long, Deputy Director Emergency Management & Continuity - Bloomington
Emergency campus contact information
- IU Bloomington
-
IUPD from a non-campus phone: 812-855-4111
IUPD from a campus phone: 9-1-1
IUPD address: 1469 E. 17th Street - IUPUI
IUPD from a non-campus phone: 317-274-7911
IUPD from a campus phone: 9-1-1
IUPD non-emergency number: 317-274-2058
IUPD address: Ball Annex, 1232 Michigan Street, Indianapolis- IUPUC
Columbus Police from a non-campus phone: 9-1-1 or 812-379-1689
Columbus Police non-emergency number: 812-348-7388
Columbus Police from a campus phone: 9-911- IU East
IUPD from a non-campus phone: 765-973-8429
IUPD from a campus phone: 8429
IUPD non-emergency number: 765-973-8357
IUPD address: Whitewater Hall Room 131, 2325 Chester Blvd, Richmond- IU Kokomo
IUPD from a non-campus phone (M-F, 8am-10:30pm): 765-455-9363
IUPD non-emergency number: 765-455-9432
IUPD address: Kelly Center, Room 240
Kokomo Police from a non-campus phone: 9-1-1 or 765-459-5101
Kokomo Police from a campus phone: 9-911- IU Northwest
IUPD from a non-campus phone: 219-980-6501
IUPD from a campus phone: 6501
IUPD non-emergency number: 219-980-6501
IUPD address: 3400 Broadway, Gary
Gary Police non-emergency number: 219-881-1214
Gary Police emergency number: 911- IU South Bend
IUPD from a non-campus phone: 574-520-4239
IUPD from a campus phone: 4239
IUPD non-emergency number: 574-520-4239
IUPD address: 2002 Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend
South Bend City Police non-emergency number: 574-235-9201- IU Southeast
IUPD from a non-campus phone: 812-941-2400
IUPD from a campus phone: 2400
IUPD non-emergency number: 812-941-2400
IUPD address: 4201 Grant Line Rd., New Albany
New Albany Police non-emergency number: 812-948-5300
New Albany Police emergency number: 911