Understanding and Responding to Active Shooter and Assailant Incidents

In today’s world, preparedness for active shooter and assailant incidents is more crucial than ever. According to the FBI, the rate of violent public attacks by active shooters in the U.S. increased by 89% between 2019 and 2023 compared to the previous five-year period.

The data also reveals a troubling trend: shootings targeting the public have remained historically high, with an overall increase of 60% since 2019. This highlights the importance of equipping businesses, employees, and individuals with the proper training to effectively respond to these critical and potentially life-threatening situations.

To address this need, GardaWorld’s U.S. National Director of Healthcare, David LaRose, MSCJ, CHPA, CPP, recently led an Active Shooter / Assailant Workshop at the ISC East Conference in New York City alongside Bernard Scaglione, CHPA, CPP, CHSP.

 

Keep reading to explore the insights from the workshop, including business response strategies, an in-depth look at the "run, hide, fight" method, and different scenarios to improve planning and response. 

 
Defining Active Shooter Terminology

To set the stage for this conversation, it's essential to understand several key terms: 

• An active shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area, typically using firearms. 
• An active assailant is a person or group actively engaged in causing serious bodily injury or death. 
• The term Active Shooter Hostile Event Response (ASHER) is a response to an incident where one or more individuals are, or have been, actively engaged in harming, killing, or attempting to kill people in a populated area by means such as firearms, explosives, toxic substances, vehicles, edged weapons, fire, or a combination thereof. 

 
Understanding Weapon Choices 

Understanding the weapons of choice for a range of different threats is an important aspect of effective planning and preparation. 
 
An analysis of the types of weapons used by active shooters and assailants reveals that 80% use firearms, with handguns being the most common, but with semiautomatic assault weapons on the rise. 
 

Image caption: Two out of 10 mass public shootings in the 1970s involved a semiautomatic assault weapon. In the 2020s, 19 of 56 mass shootings (34 percent) involved an assault weapon. 

Other deadly methods such as baseball bats, knives and vehicles have also become increasingly prevalent.

For instance, on January 1, 2025 an individual drove a pickup truck into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing 14 people and injuring dozens of others. According to CBS News, a bulletin later released by the FBI warned that vehicle ramming attacks are "likely to remain attractive for aspiring attackers" because of the relative ease of requiring a vehicle and the "low skill threshold necessary" to carry out such a plot. 

 
Business Response Strategies

A variety of response strategies are recommended for handling active shooter and assailant incidents, especially since law enforcement response times are not instantaneous.     
 
How long does it take to search your business, and how are you protecting yourself and others while waiting for help to arrive?  

 

 
 

The Run, Hide, Fight method, preferred by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), emphasizes running to safety, hiding if escape is not possible, and fighting as a last resort. Other strategies include Avoid, Deny, Defend (ADD) and Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate (ALICE). Each method has its own merits and can be adapted to different situations.

Specific challenges arise when considering whether professionals like nurses and teachers can leave their posts during an incident. Additionally, protecting employees working from home and individuals with disabilities presents unique considerations. These challenges highlight the need for comprehensive planning and training catering to your business needs. 

 
Emergency Preparedness Training

Conducting drills and exercises is vital for emergency preparedness. It's important to understand the do’s and don’ts of exercising plans, the progression of training, and the execution of actual drills. Drills help ensure that everyone knows their role and can act quickly and effectively in an emergency.

Scenario planning is another crucial aspect of preparedness. For example, handling an active shooting in a high-rise building requires specific preparations and response strategies. Crafting an emergency message during an active shooter incident is also critical, as clear and timely communication can save lives.

 

 

Beyond internal training, the Stop the Bleed campaign is a national awareness initiative encouraging bystanders to help in bleeding emergencies before professional help arrives. This campaign underscores the importance of immediate action and the role of bystanders in saving lives, and can be a great resource for additional employee training. 

Overall, implementing and practicing response plans is crucial for ensuring safety in the face of active shooter and assailant incidents. By staying informed and proactively being prepared with proper training, we can better protect ourselves and those around us.

At GardaWorld, we continuously adapt our training to stay ahead of evolving security threats for active shooters, assailants, and much more. Click here to learn about our training programs for security officers.