BEAUMONT, Texas — Students and staff at Lamar University learned how to prepare for the worst case scenario during active shooter training on Tuesday.
The Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) course comes from the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT), which is a part of Texas State University's effort to education civilians in emergencies.
Lamar University officers says it takes three minutes to respond to an active shooter. Those three minutes could mean the difference between life or death.
Courses like CRASE teach people the skills they need to fight for their lives.
No matter where you are, the grocery store or even at school, the threat of an active shooter could be just around the corner
"Heaven forbid of course we don't want that to happen, but if does, we want to be prepared from top to bottom," said Lamar University Police Department Sergeant Colt Ryan.
On Tuesday, staff and students like Aloysius Nwazoji and Trevon Sanchez saw just how much the threat has grown
"We didn't know about it, but I think it's good they made that available to us because it's creating awareness," Sanchez said
Officers believe remembering the words, avoid, deny and defend, can keep staff and students from being the next victims of an active shooter
"You want to avoid the area and deny him entry into your area and defend is the last option," Ryan said. "So you don't want to put yourself in a spot to where you have to defend against and active shooter or defend another, but if push comes to shove I think anybody would take that responsibility."
Those who went to the training also got to see tools that could be used during life or death situations
Nwazoji says classes like these make him feel much safer
"I do feel safe, I do feel like our police officers do a great job at keeping us safe," Nwazoji said.
Lamar University plans to hold active shooter trainings once a month and is looking into purchasing special locks that could prevent doors from being kicked in or out.