Surviving an Armed Gunman Attack

The shooting rampage and violence in schools, business and churches will continue to dominate the news last year and now again in the year 2006. Five are dead at a postal facility in California. Some may call it domestic terrorism, work place violence, but in reality it’s mass murder. Sometimes the killing’s are for headlines or revenge. More often than not, it’s emotionally disturbed individuals or groups carrying out their deepest and darkest fantasy. Many times it’s just rage. The killer is emotionally angered and snaps. Some killers will plan their raging homicidal shootings and actually bring the weapons to work with them on the day of the attack.

Article Written by Walter Philbrick

Once in motion the killing is brutal. In Melrose Park, Illinois, the shooting lasted eight to twelve minutes. When it was over at Navistar, five dead and four more wounded. Some killers will kill at random while others are methodical. The killer will murder his targets and any additional victims in the near vicinity. These killers read the newspaper and watch TV. They plan their attacks in a copy cat manner of other shooters. It’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

Now is the time to prepare for our worst nightmare. In today’s society, history will repeat it’s self again and again so we have to be ready. The time is now to start thinking about what you can do when the armed gunman enters your office building and starts shooting everyone in sight regardless of age, sex or race.

Your goal is to prevent from being shot or killed when an armed gunman storms your church, business, school, or organization and begins shooting. The carnage will be brutal and it will take all the courage and fortitude you have to survive.
In the end you must survive the assault, save lives, neutralize or isolate the armed attacker and minimize injury as much as possible.

Stop the Assault Before It Begins

Every school, organization, group or any individual is a potential target. From high schools, to Jewish Community Centers to churches, we all need to protect ourselves from being killed. The shooters will be our students, outraged coworkers, associates or even terrorists.

Take precautions now. Think like the military and elite counter terrorist teams. Military units use perimeters for safety. Our goal is to stop the threat before he enters your building. Always have a sentry on duty that is keeping an eye on your perimeter. The sentry could be armed with just a cell phone to call the police or he could carry a firearm.

In the shooting at Naristar in Melrose Park, the triggerman in the shootings was William D. Baker. He was a former employee who was fired, arrested and convicted for stealing $195,000 in engines and parts. He arrived at the security gate at 9:45 a.m. on the morning of the carnage carrying a golf bag. Anyone carrying a golf bag into an industrial work area should be an indication that something is wrong. Wouldn’t that raise your suspicions just a little?

The key to increased safety is to layer your security. The secret service calls them concentric circles. The more you have the tougher it is to penetrate and get to the core or target. Each layer provides you with space-distance, time and checkpoints.

Rotate this person every 60 minutes to prevent fatigue or boredom. The lookout responsibility is to recognize a potential threat, sound the alarm and prevent that threat from entering.

Every group, family, or organization should have a key word that lets everyone know there is a problem. A word that is distinct and when it is stated, people start reacting.
In hospitals I teach the staff to page Doctor Blue when there is a threat or problem at a specific area. The intercom would state, “Doctor Blue please respond to the front counter area.” Everyone knows there is a problem and where it is at.

Another example of a trigger word would be, “Gun”, “Freeze”, “Weapon.” Now we have one word that identifies a problem. If someone in your group calls out the days or weeks trigger word your reactionary plan should begin to take place. And don’t forget, always call the police immediately, if you perceive a problem or there is a potentially violent person on your property.

Outer perimeter security and safety can be metal detectors, armed or unarmed security officers, on duty or off duty police officers in uniform, check points for proper identification, club membership, entry cards etc.

The best method to keep from becoming a victim is awareness.  Prevent the attack before it occurs. Once the assault begins, your primary goal now is survival and to minimize injuries. Listed are some essential elements for staying alive when the attack is in progress and someone is shooting.

Six Elements for Survival

  1. Mental Conditioning and Awareness (Proper mental mindset). When the assault begins you have to be mentally prepared to take action. Any hesitation on your part or your staff could be deadly. Everyone must immediately click into high gear and start making decisions that will ensure their survival.

    When the shooting starts it’s not the time to hide in a corner and say, “I don’t believe this is happening.” It is happening and it’s real. If you don’t take immediate action you could be killed. When the gunman enters your building and starts shooting, you have to say to yourself, “I knew this was going to happen and I am prepared for this.

    You must mentally prepare yourself today for this life threatening occurrence. Any delay in your reaction time could be costly. Every second counts. Your next decision could determine if you live or die.

    There are ways to practice mental preparation. One method is to play “what if” games. This prepares you mentally to take action, the next time you are in a Post Office, church, supermarket or library say to yourself, “What if it happens right now, what would I do? A gunman has just entered the restaurant and has started shooting people. Do I finish this cup of coffee or do I move for cover?

    Visually play the scenario in your mind. Create and execute the mental plan as if it is happening now. Visualize yourself taking actions that will insure your survival. Visualization and mental preparation are essential for survival.
  2. Have a Plan (Decision Making). “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” You must have a plan. When the killing begins any plan is better than no plan. Keep the plan simple so everyone will remember what to do. Some suggestions:
    1. Designate a locker stocked with Pepper spray, ballistic vests, radios, batons, stun guns, or even firearms.
    2. Have a planned escape or evacuation route. Also have a secondary exit in the event the shooter is in that area.
    3. Designate a safe room. This room will have a phone, metal doors that are secured from the inside and possibly the weapons locker. This room is where everyone will go in the event of a shooting.
    4. Practice exiting your building. Practice locking doors upon your retreat. Prior to locking the doors make sure the room is empty. A locked door could prevent the shooter from entering your room or at least slow him down until help arrives. Treat this as a fire drill. Call it an emergency exit drill. But do it.
    5. Designate duties (who calls the police, activate the fire alarm, get the kids to the safe room etc.) and assign a secondary person in the event the primary has been killed.
    6. Practice locking down your room or area. If you can keep the gunman out of your room you will survive.
  3. Tactical Movements (Surprise and Speed). Your immediate reactions to the shots being fired are going to save your life. What ever you do, do it now. Do it as fast as you can and this will surprise the shooter. Be tactical, for example, turn the lights out. You know how to get around your building in the dark but the gunman will not.
  4. Personal Skills (Firearms and Self Defense Training). Everyone should learn basic survival skills. If you possess a concealed weapons license and you are carrying your gun, can you shoot on the move? Can you shoot from a prone position, with one hand, or while retreating? These basic shooting techniques could save lives during an incident.

    Learn some basic self defense and weapons defense. Gun and knife defenses could be useful during a close quarter combat situation.

    Learn about guns. You don’t have to carry a gun or purchase one but everyone should learn the basics on how a firearm functions. This simple knowledge could save your life.

    For example, It’s important to know when a firearm is empty. If you recognize that the shooters gun is empty (slide locks back) this is your one chance for survival. Move or attack while he is reloading.
  5. Physical Fitness and Strength (Cardio Vascular and Strength). It always helps to be in peak physical performance. You will be under extreme stress during a shooting spree or mass shooting. The better shape you are in both cardiovascular and strength will assist you in your decision making abilities and ability to fight or flee.

    Decision; Can I make it out of the cafeteria, down the stairs and out the rear fire doors before the gunman shoots me? Will I be too physically exhausted? I emotionally ready to react to the shooter. Can I physically withstand the challenge? The better shape you are in the better your chances are for survival.
  6. Equipment (Maintenance and Possession). Someone should be assigned the task of equipment needs. Keys to exit doors, entry doors, the safe room and the weapons locker. If you are assigned to a post watching the front door then you must carry your equipment e.g., firearm, OC pepper spray, mobile phone, whistle etc.

    For example, OC Pepper spray if sprayed in the face of a gunman has over a 90% chance of immobilizing him. The pepper from the spray will blind the shooter for a minimum of twenty minutes. I would recommend a 2-ounce spray with a combination of OC Pepper and CS gas. So you don’t have to carry a gun to defend yourself. A potent pepper spray will get blind the shooter. At least now you have a chance for survival. What did you have before?

    Aerosol OC pepper can also be used for an entire room. A container much like a bug spray is initiated and will make entry into that room impossible. If the shooter enters the room and has difficulty breathing and can’t see he will exit immediately. Meanwhile you have already left the room through another door.

Recommendations For Survival

  1. Of the initial assault, many victims have stated, “I didn’t think it was real.” It doesn’t matter, react anyway. Get your family out, take cover or start to move to an exit. If it’s just firecrackers or a loud backfire from a truck it will have been good practice.
  2. Gather information immediately. Everything you see and hear is important. How many shots are being fired, how many shooters are there, what kind of firearms or weapons, direction of the attack, how far away is the shooter, are the shots the same sound (shotgun, handgun, rifle), rapid fire or single fire, and who is he targeting.
  3. Move away from the sound of gunfire. Lock doors behind you only if you are not isolating other victims. Take as many people with you as you can but get away from the shooter. He is shooting at random without a plan. You have a plan.
  4. If the sound of gunfire is getting louder then he is close. Suddenly there he is. Move if you can. It is difficult to shoot a moving target but if you cannot run, do not challenge him or confront him. Stand still and at the last moment prior to him pulling the trigger move, throw something at him, drop to the ground, charge him but don’t just stand there and take the shot.

    It is probably better to hide in the safest place as possible. If he is moving and shooting in your direction and he is too close for you to hide but probably has not seen you yet, don’t move. Movement may attract his attention. He is looking for movement and that’s when he fires.
  5. If you know something about firearms and he is using a revolver, remember the cylinder will hold a maximum of five, six, or seven rounds-bullets. Most revolvers hold only five or six. If it’s a big revolver then it probably holds six (6) bullets. The shooter will probably not be counting his rounds. So when you hear a click on an empty chamber or spent shell, its time to move and move fast. He will have to reload or go to an alternate weapon.

    Most of these crazed shooters are known to carry more than one weapon. If he is carrying a semi-automatic pistol look for the slide to lock back.. That means the gun is empty. The shooter will have to drop out the magazine and place a new one in the gun.

    Again, this is your opportunity to attack or move. One important note, if you have not received training do not attempt to subdue or physically control the shooter. This type of training is specialized, dangerous and takes years to master.
  6. If you are carrying a firearm and you hear the gunshots, it’s decision time. You will have less than five (5) seconds to make a decision and you have four choices:
    1. Exit immediately and save yourself and your loved ones.
    2. Stop, take cover and hope he does not find you.
    3. Take cover and wait for the prime opportunity to neutralize the shooter(s).
    4. Take the offensive and attack the shooter.
    If you are not armed think about environmental weapons that could distract,
    injure or stop the attacker. Such weapons are hot coffee, full soda can,
    small TV, letter openers, stapler, statues, rolls of coins, a fire extinguisher etc. These weapons are all readily accessible in most schools, churches, or businesses.
  7. Know the difference between concealment and cover. Concealment offers little or no protection from bullets. It only takes you out of visual sight from the subject. He cannot see you. An example of concealment would be behind a wall made from drywall, a hollow door or a chalk board easel.

    Cover provides both protection from bullet penetration and makes it difficult for the shooter to see you. An example of cover would be a poured concrete column, solid wooden doors, an office file cabinet, or a brick wall.
  8. Don’t have eye contact with the shooter or talk to him. It is reported at the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado the shooter put a gun to a Students head and asked her, “Do you believe in God”, she stated, “Yes, I do” then he shot her.

    If you are going to be shot and prior to shooting you he asks you a question, “Do you believe in God?” Respond with a question that is so off the wall that for a brief moment he has to stop and think. For example, when he asks you if you believe in God, ask him, “When is your birthday?” You will have a momentary reactionary pause from the shooter as he briefly thinks about what you asked him. This is your ½ of a second to move, take cover, fight or run.
  9. If he shoots you go to the ground and stay there. Play possum and pretend that you are dead. The chances of him shooting you a second time are slim. If there are injured or dead people near you and you cannot escape, lie on the ground next to another victim and don’t move.
  10. Learn some basic Self Help First Aid. If you have been shot and help is on the way, you may have to lie there for ten (10) minutes or several hours before you are treated. You have got to administer help to yourself until the paramedics get there.

    To survive you must stop the loss of blood. One method is direct pressure on the wound or just above the wound. If you are going to lose consciousness, find a hard object and place it under your body above the wound and lay on top of it. Your body weight and the hard object will constrict your arterial blood flow. The pressure on the wound will continue even after you have passed out due to the loss of blood. Remember; if possible elevate the wounded area.
  11. Learn basic first aid to help others who are injured. The Red Cross offers these classes. When the shooting stops and the injured are screaming for help, you will have only seconds to make a decision on a wound. Every second counts when someone has been shot and bleeding profusely. Triage takes over and it’s your job to identify whose life can be saved.

    When fire rescue gets on the scene time is critical. There may be eight (8) or nine (9) victims who have gun shot wounds. Prior to fire rescue arriving try to identify students who’s injury is life threatening and can be saved. Those who are shot and will die anyway should not be treated at this time. It is a very difficult decision but every second counts.
  12. If you get out safely, the police will need to talk to you. They will need a description on the gunman, who is still inside, diagrams of the building, all exits, who has been shot, weapons used by the subject etc.

    Try to compose yourself so you can give the police the most up to date, complete and factual information as possible. You have survived and will be emotionally and physically traumatized. Get over it, your safe. Describe to the police what has happened.

    What thing to remember. As you exit the building do exactly as the police tell you to do. You will be treated as if you are a suspect or even the gunman until you have been positively identified as a victim. Many times hostage takers dress like their hostage or victims in an attempt to confuse the police.

Biography on the Author:

Walter Philbrick is the President of 911 Store & Services, Inc. (911) a gun store and training company in Hollywood, Florida. Walter has been featured on 60 minutes with Leslie Stahl, CNN, Inside Edition, Today Show, Time Magazine, News Week and many other TV and newspapers worldwide. 911 instructs corporations, police departments and individuals on how to survive in urban America.

Mr. Philbrick is also a Reserve Lieutenant with the Hialeah Police Department. He retired from full time duty, after 22 years of service. Philbrick was a SWAT Team Leader (Sergeant) and team member for over thirteen years. Walter also is a fifth (5) degree black belt in judo, firearms instructor and certified police instructor. To contact him call: (954) 922-0301 or (954) 922-9258.

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