HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — The threat of gun violence in schools is apparent in America, which more than 400 school shootings trailing behind the 1999 Columbine massacre, according to data from the Washington Post.
And in Virginia between 2018 and 2023, 40 people have been wounded or killed in 46 school shootings in Virginia.
It’s a harrowing reminder that students and faculty need to be prepared as they return to class for the new school year. While it’s difficult to detect when or if an school shooting may occur, if one happens, it’s important to know effective ways to respond.
In 2020, the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services launched the Active Attack Program, a year after the Virginia Beach Municipal Center mass shooting. The free training is designed to prepare and protect all school faculty and staff — both public and private, K-12, higher-ed, businesses, houses of worship and local, state and federal government in Virginia.
Active Attack Program Manager Adam Keene said the goal is to teach people how to “survive the five,” which means the first five minutes of an attack event. The national average response time is said to be approximately three to five minutes, so what people do during that time is critical.
Using the program’s R.A.C.E method, people can feel empowered and learn preventative methods to keep them from becoming a victim.
- REACT — Avoid, Deny, Defend.
- ACTIVE — contact the first responder network by dialing 9-1-1.
- CARE — for the injured using lessons from “stop the bleed.”
- EVACUATE — to the safest location.
“We use what’s called the whole community approach, where we are training both our first responders as well as our citizen population with community focused training,” Keene said. “We assign ownership to both of those. We have a program called Civilian Response and Casualty Care, and that’s geared primarily to those citizens around the Commonwealth.”
The CRCC training courses are offered in person and through various e-learning options.
With schools experiencing a surge in shootings, training techniques are always evolving. A study conduced by Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, showed the highest number of school shootings in more than a decade, took place between 2023 and 2024.
“A lot of these have occurred in open-air environments as well,” Keene said. “So we are not only teaching people how to survive indoors, but there has to be some survivability outdoors. That’s something that’s new that has been added and that’s based upon several principles, which is lock down the shelter in place to evacuate as well.
“And again, what we’re trying to do is create a culture of normalcy, of understanding that safety is a real concern. So these can be used for drills to allow people to understand it could be an open-air environment if something happens outside, maybe it’s better there to secure yourself in an outdoor place the best you can, or inside the building if it’s not safe to move inside to lock that building down.”
So, is it possible to detect a potential active shooter before an attack?
The Federal Bureau of Investigation says no.
However, the FBI’s research does point out several behaviors active shooters may exhibit, such as violent social media messages, changes in hygiene or weight, quality of thinking or comminution, physical aggression and impulsivity.
Keen suggested that if something feels off to avoid it, and if it does happen, he recommends to barricade yourself.
“Simply hide in a place where we don’t want you just to hide and hope, but we need you to take action in that with the ability to potentially defend yourself,” Keene said. “Now, of course, defense, that’s something we’re not going to advocate for younger audiences to do because the danger of that. Make a plan and know where the safe spaces are to identify vulnerabilities so that, again, we can better be prepared together. If you can’t get out of the building, then at least try to create angles and barriers or lock the door. Go to a safer place where you have a limited portion of threat area that could be around you and recognize that you may have to do something to protect yourself or not just protect yourself, but to help provide medical aid to yourself.”
To request the Attack Active Program in your area, visit www.dcjs.virginia.gov.