Spring Break
2/20 Update: Training in Buzzard Hall simulates an event with active shooter
Emily Zulz / Associate News Editor
Issue date: 2/20/09 Section: News
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The suspect was seen wearing a facemask, Carhartt jacket with two weapons, a shotgun and a handgun, leaving the Buzzard Hall Auditorium.
This along with phrases like "victims on the ground" and "gun shot to the leg" could be heard over the police radio scanner Friday morning during the active shooter drill on campus.
The drill started around 8:40 a.m.
Some volunteers wearing blue shirts walked through the area around the auditorium before becoming eventual victims from the shooter.
Around 20 individuals designated by University Housing and Dining Services acted as victims for the drill.
Police officers from both University Police Department and Charleston Police Department entered the scene.
They entered with guns unholstered and drawn searching the area and questioning bystanders to find the shooter.
They went up to the second balcony and eventually to the roof.
University Police Chief Adam Due said they received the call shortly before 8:45 a.m. and responded to the scene right away.
He said the response time was around one to two minutes to arrive.
The teams entered the building, engaged the shooter and secured the center.
"I think the response was quick," Due said. "Information getting in the scene led to shooter very quickly."
Ambulances also arrived on the scene.
"Victims" were put on stretchers and rolled out to the ambulances, which then drove off with sirens on.
A mock press conference was held at 11 a.m. in the 1895 Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union as if the drill had been real.
President Bill Perry addressed the public with fake information such as information on casualties and injuries, class cancellation and e-mail notifications to community members.
The University Police Department, Charleston Police Department, Charleston Fire Department, Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, and Health Service also participated in the press conference.
Immediately following the mock conference, the pretend was set aside and Perry addressed the actual drill.
Administration will continue to debrief throughout the day and continue simulation of the event of a real-life shooter.
More information will be available in Monday's DEN.
Emily Zulz can be reached at 581-7942 or at eazulz@eiu.edu.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 2
Roy Kubicek
posted 2/21/09 @ 8:40 PM CST
"response time was around one to two minutes to arrive."
For an event that was pre-planned and that everyone knew about well in advance? For some reason, I'm not encouraged. (Continued…)
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