Active Shooter/Violent Intruder
If facing an active shooter/violent intruder situation, use the below recommendations to guide your response decisions.
RUN – when an active shooter/violent intruder is nearby
- Attempt to evacuate, if there is a safe escape path
- Evacuate whether others agree to or not
- Leave your belongings behind
- Help others escape, if possible
- Prevent others from entering the area
- Call MIT Police x100 or 617-253-1212 when you are safe
HIDE – if evacuation is not possible, find a safe place to hide
- Lock and/or barricade the door(s)
- Turn off lights and lower window shades
- Silence your cell phone and other electronics
- Hide behind large objects
- Remain silent
Your hiding place should:
- Be out of the intruder’s view
- Provide protection from gun shots or weapons
- Not trap or restrict your options for movement
FIGHT – as a last resort and only if your life is in danger
- Attempt to incapacitate the attacker
- Act with physical aggression
- Improvise weapons
- Work together with others
- Commit to your actions
Information You Should Provide to the Emergency Operator
- Clarify your location on the MIT Campus
- Location of the attacker
- Number of attackers, if more than one
- Physical description of attacker(s)
- Number and type of weapons held by the attacker(s)
- Number of potential victims at the location
How to React When Law Enforcement Arrives
- Remain calm, and follow officers’ instructions
- Immediately raise hands and spread fingers
- Keep hands visible at all times
- Avoid making quick movements toward officers such as attempting to hold on to them for safety
- Avoid pointing, screaming and/or yelling
- Do not stop to ask officers for help or direction when evacuating, just proceed in the direction from which officers are entering the premises
Preparedness
Several preparedness measures exist to possibly prevent or increase your chance of survival.
Recognizing and Reporting Unusual/Threatening/Violent Behavior
Although there is no exact profile of an active shooter/violent intruder, there may be some “warning signs” or “indicators” exhibited before they act. These can range from unusual behaviors all the way to violent acts. Taken separately, these behaviors may be minor, but an accumulation of multiple indicators could be cause for concern. If you know of someone exhibiting the below behaviors, report them to any MIT official (MIT Police, Dean on Call, Mental Health, etc.) so they can be reviewed appropriately:
- Paranoid or delusional statements
- Sudden changes in personality or performance
- Depression/suicidal ideation
- Increased isolation
- Interest in or acquisition of weapons.
- Stalking
- Threats/acts of aggression/violence
Active Shooter/Violent Intruder Training
In conjunction with MIT Police, MIT Emergency Management conducts training for our community. Broken down into three progressive phases, this training reviews possible indicators of potential attackers and teaches participants the above response actions. Visit this page, or email em-staff@mit.edu, to learn more.