A US Department of Justice Federal Bureau investigation into active shooter incidences (“A Study of Active Shooter Incidents in the United States Between 2000 and 2013”) identified the number of incidences shows an increasing trend including those that fall within the category defined as ‘mass killings’ (where three or more people are killed in a single incident) i.e. 64 of the 160 (40%).

The majority—45.6% of the 160 incidences—occurred in an environment related to commerce. The second most common incident locations (39) were in educational environments (24.4% - 27 schools and 12 IHEs) involving some of the highest casualty numbers (117 individuals killed and 120 wounded). For example, the highest death tolls among the 160 incidents occurred at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia (32 killed, 17 wounded) and Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut (26 killed, 2 wounded).

• Open spaces (15 [9.4%]);
• Government properties (16 [10.0%]);
• Other (non-military) government properties (11 [6.9%])
• Military properties (5 [3.1%])
• Residences (7 [4.4%]);
• Houses of worship (6 [3.8%]); and
• Health care facilities (4 [2.5%]).

The study also helps clarify the environment with regard to both the level of risk citizens face and the speed with which active shooter incidents occur. The majority of the 160 incidents (90 [56.3%]) ended on the shooter’s initiative before the police arrived. In 64 incidents where the duration of the incident could be ascertained, 44 (69.0%) of 64 incidents ended in 5 minutes or less, with 23 ending in 2 minutes or less.

The FBI recognizes that seeking to avoid these tragedies is clearly the best result. Knowing the increased active shooter threat and the swiftness with which active shooter incidents unfold, better prevention and response systems are needed to avoid such tragedies.

Crisis Averter addresses the need for the immediate safety of personnel and time critical response to such incidents by providing a cost-effective system for every staff member to initiate a lockdown the instant an incident unfolds, thereby securing the environment faster to prevent loss of lives and injuries.