Law Enforcement Asks People To Remember Run, Hide, Fight In Shooting Situation

Law enforcement wants people to remember the terms Run, Hide, Fight after a shooting at Woodland Hills Mall forced many people to run away and businesses to lockdown. Those three words could help save your life in an active shooter situation.

An evening at the mall quickly turned into shoppers scurrying in fear and a parking lot filled with police cars.

“That’s not something anyone should have to go through,” said Ryan Hover, who had a loved one in the mall during the panic. “Especially someone who is not around that is not trained for anything related to that.”

While most don’t have active shooter training, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office says people in these situations need to remember the words Run, Hide, Fight.

“Always stay calm, remember to breathe,” said Corporal Daniel Gullett, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office. “The more you’re breathing, the better decisions you’re going to make because the lower your heart rate’s going to be.”

If you hear of an active shooting, you should take it seriously and get away from the area if you can.

“Always identify your exits,” said Gullett. “You need to know where your exits are at, where you’re at in the building; that way, you can get you and your family out safely.”

If getting out isn’t an option, Gullett says to hide somewhere that will shield you from bullets. If you find an interior door, it’s best to shut it, lock it, and barricade yourself inside.

If that isn’t an option, Gullett says fighting is your last resort. This means grabbing anything you can find to fend off the gunman.

For large public places like the mall, Gullett says it is important to take every threat seriously.

“It’s always better to be safe than sorry,” he said. “If you do receive some type of news that way, if you hear gunshots or someone yelling there’s a gun, you need to take it seriously and act accordingly.”

Gullett says the top priority for law enforcement is to get inside and take down the gunman. If you have to call 911 in this situation, he says be prepared to give the description and location of the gunman to help them out.