An active shooter scenario is an unlikely event, but one we must all adequately prepare for. Hunter’s active shooter protocol is designed to prepare students, staff and faculty on how to respond quickly and safely in an active shooter situation. The Public Safety team, in collaboration with NYPD, continues to work to ensure the safety of our campus community. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact the Office of Public Safety at 212-722-4521 or, for 24-hour response, 212-772-4444.
- An active shooter is an armed person who has used deadly physical force on other persons, and continues to do so with unrestricted access to targets.
- Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Incidents usually begin without warning; and in most cases, active shooters do not follow a recognizable pattern when selecting targets.
- Shooter motivations may stem from mental health impairment, rage, desire for revenge or other factors. It is generally not effective to attempt to negotiate or plead with an active shooter.
- Active shooter situations are often over within 8 to 10 minutes, usually before law enforcement arrives on-scene. The shooter often commits suicide. Escape is not typically planned in advance.
- It is a good idea to have a plan in mind for active shooter situations. “What would I do if…”
- Whenever anyone on campus becomes aware of an active shooter event, they should notify the Office of Public Safety or 911 as soon as it is safe to do so.
- Do not pull a local fire alarm station. This will confuse the response teams and could cause a delay in the NYPD response.
- Once public safety becomes aware of an active shooter event, they will:
- Contact 911;
- Move to issue a CUNY Alert.
- Notify the campus via the Public Address system to “Lock Down”. This means everyone should initiate the A-B-C protocol covered below.
Avoid
- Unless you are in imminent danger, stay in or move to a locked room (classroom or office).
- If you are in imminent danger, run to a safe location (classroom or office) and secure that area.
- Warn others to move, but do not place yourself in danger by doing so.
- Avoid elevators and stairwells wherever possible; if you must use a stairwell to reach a safe room, remain pressed to the wall so officers can get by.
- Have a specific safety route in mind.
- Do not attempt to move wounded individuals.
Barricade
- Immediately lock all doors and cover all windows using the window shades.
- Stay away from doors and windows, and turn off all lights.
- Get behind ballistic cover (such as desks, cabinets), not just visual concealment.
- Do not make noise; silence cell phones and any other devices on-hand.
- Arm yourself with whatever makeshift weapons you can find in the classroom/office.
- Calm others.
- Make a group plan of attack if the shooter tries to enter the room.
- Listen for Public Address announcements.
- Call 911 only when safe to do so.
Confront
- Confrontation is the last resort; use only if you or others come face to face with the assailant.
- Fight as if your life depends on it—because it does.
- Use improvised weapons, attempt to quickly overpower the individual with force in the most violent way possible.
- Work as a group, if you are with other people.
- Distract/disorient the attacker by throwing objects at them and yelling loudly.
- If you can, move to another area.
- If fighting, fleeing or hiding are impossible, remain quiet or “play dead” to avoid detection.
Only contact 911 directly if it is expressly safe to do so. Give the following information, as is known, to the 911 operator as calmly as possible:
- Your name and exact location.
- Location of the incident (provide as many specific details as possible).
- Number of shooters, the location at which they were last seen, and the direction in which they were traveling.
- Physical description of the shooter(s) (sex, race, clothing, type of weapons).
- The number and locations of victims and a brief descriptions of their injuries.
- If you have heard explosions in addition to gunfire.
- If you have observed any suspicious devices, provide a description and location.
- Even if you did not see the shooter or any suspicious devices, provide your name, the number of people with you, your location and any injuries.
- Hunter College campuses are vertical environments with many floors to descend.
- If everyone tried to evacuate at the same time:
- Panic may ensue and people would be injured in the rush to exit;
- In the confusion, people might run toward the shooter;
- Large numbers of people might become confined in the stairwells, giving the shooter many targets;
- Law enforcement’s response would be slowed by the large number of people in the stairwells and spilling out into the streets.
- The best response is to barricade and wait for help.
- Never pull a local fire alarm.
When arriving on-scene, officers will be primarily focused on your hands. If you meet an officer, keep your hands out, open, above your head and empty.
- Do not carry any packages or items that could be confused for weapons—do not carry cell phones/electronics visibly!
- Do not attempt to run towards or grab onto officers.
- Resist the urge to make any sudden movements.
- Understand that the officers’ primary mission is to neutralize the shooter. Therefore, even if you are injured, officers may initially pass you by in order to contain the threat. They will return.
- Once evacuated, be prepared for questioning, which may take a considerable period of time.
- Recognize that depending upon the scene, threat, size of the facility, it may take several hours for law enforcement to clear the area and find you. Until contact is made, remain calm, quiet and alert.