active shooters
Ongoing rampage perpetrators
Active shooters are individuals engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area, typically using firearms.
The term emerged from law enforcement and emergency response contexts, where it describes ongoing rather than past threats: The building was evacuated after reports of an active shooter.
Active shooter drills have become standard in American schools and workplaces.
Enforced restriction on movement
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- SWATElite police squad
- policeCivil law enforcement
911 · intervention · neutralize · barricade · shelter-in-place · protocol · alert · dispatch
Armed violent person
- massacreLarge-scale unlawful killing
- rampageViolent, destructive outburst
- spreeBrief excessive episode
- attackAggressive act against another
siege · hostage · standoff · casualty · fatalities · wounded · victims · targeting
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
hiding · escape · survival · alarm · hypervigilance · nightmare · vulnerability · threat
Intense sorrow from loss
- mourningPeriod following loss
- survivorOne still alive after
- PTSDChronic reaction to horrific events
- traumaLasting psychological wound
healing · counseling · vigil · memorial · remembrance · tribute · condolences · loss
Protection from threat
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- screeningEvaluative selection process
- detectionAct of finding something
- profilingCharacterizing by patterns
intervention · training · preparedness · reporting · awareness · de-escalation
lockdown
Enforced restriction on movement
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- SWATElite police squad
police · 911 · intervention · neutralize · barricade · shelter-in-place · protocol · alert · dispatch · perimeter
gunman
Armed violent person
- massacreLarge-scale unlawful killing
- rampageViolent, destructive outburst
- spreeBrief excessive episode
attack · siege · hostage · standoff · casualty · fatalities · wounded · victims · targeting · ambush
panic
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
helplessness · hiding · escape · survival · alarm · hypervigilance · nightmare · vulnerability · threat · unease
grief
Intense sorrow from loss
trauma · healing · counseling · vigil · memorial · remembrance · tribute · condolences · loss · bereavement
security
Protection from threat
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- screeningEvaluative selection process
- detectionAct of finding something
profiling · intervention · training · preparedness · reporting · awareness · de-escalation
active shootersvictims
Those who suffer harm
rescuers · protectors · targets · hostages · survivors
active shootersfirst responders
Personnel arriving at emergencies initially
SWAT teams · police officers · security personnel · law enforcement · peacekeepers
active, actively, activate, activated, activates, activating, activation, activator, activity