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Auraria police off campus crisis tips
Courtesy of @Metro

In the wake of the April 16 shooting on the Virginia Tech campus, in which a lone gunman took the lives of at least 32 people and wounded many others before taking his own life, the Auraria police offer the following tips.

Always be aware of what is going on around you.
Many violent situations unfold in the same general way – a person makes threats or threatening comments. They show up at a business, school or workplace dressed in military-style or inappropriate clothing, such as a trenchcoat in summer, and pull out a firearm and start calmly and methodically firing. Look for people acting strangely or dressed inappropriately. Take threats seriously.

Believe what you see.
As events unfold in front of you, trust your eyes and your ears, as you see people running or hear the gunfire and people screaming. Many people report that they thought the event wasn’t real. They think it is a movie or a joke. Stay aware of what is happening around you, and trust your instincts that something is wrong – believe the warning!

Hit the ground!
Your first priority is to get out of the line of fire. Get on the ground immediately and assess your escape routes. Do not hesitate, move!

Find cover.
Get behind something that will stop bullets, not just conceal you. High-powered bullets can penetrate a large amount of materials. Look for brick walls, planters, mailboxes, cars or thick trees.

Put distance between you and the shooter.
Your chances for survival in a gunfight rise dramatically the farther you are from the gunman. Stay down and crawl away from the origin of the shooting. Try to get better cover or escape out of a door or window. Just get out.

Escape!
If you have been trapped by gunfire and there is a noticeable dramatic silence, the gunman may have run out of ammunition and is either reloading or switching to another weapon. If at all possible, move to an exit to escape.