Less than 30 minutes from Clemson University, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Department responded to a potential threat of an active shooting incident at Foothills Community Church. This was on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019.
Suspect Damon “Brace” O’Neal Johnson was allegedly asked to leave a youth group because he was over-age. Upon this request, reports say the suspect became hostile and threatened to shoot the church with his “fully loaded AR-15.” Upon arrival to the scene, all he would tell the officers was “I did nothing wrong.” Off-duty Officer Casey Bowling was present at the incident and requested to file charges against Johnson for the threats made against himself and the church.
Johnson is currently under arrest and being detained at the Oconee County Detention Center.
After searching the area near the church, the deputies did not find any weapons, including the one Johnson allegedly referenced.
This is an example of why the fear of active shooters grows greater every day. CUPD trains every single one of their officers for this specific incident annually. Resident Assistants also watch a training video about active shooters during their orientation before residents arrive on campus.
The current model for anyone involved in an active shooter incident is Run, Hide, Fight.
Run: Put as much distance between yourself and the active shooter as you can. Run in a zig-zag pattern if you are being shot at; this makes it much harder for the shooter to actually hit you. Once you’ve put as much distance as possible from the shooter, you move on to Hide.
Hide: If you can’t run away from the shooter any further, it’s time to hide. Find somewhere and barricade it. Where ever you think of to hide, try to put as much as you can in front of the door. You can use a belt tied around the arm that some doors have so the shooter can’t enter as easily. Don’t talk if you don’t have to. Turn off all of the lights. If you’re hiding in a bathroom stall, lift your feet up so the shooter can’t see them under the stall doors. While you’re hiding, this is a good time to prepare to Fight.
Fight: Get whatever you can to throw at or bludgeon the assailant with. Being on a college campus, you can fill your bookbags with textbooks and use the weight to slam into the shooter. When the shooter opens the door, throw as much at them as you can; this makes it harder for them to aim. If it’s possible to safely retreat at this point, do so. NOTICE: If the shooter drops the weapon, DO NOT pick it up and walk around with it; the police are looking for someone with a gun. Do NOT be the person with the gun when they get there. Do, however, get the weapon out of the shooter’s reach. If you are leaving the location, toss the gun in a trash can and lift it over your head as you move making it clear that you are not the threat while you are also keeping yourself safe.
Call the police at the first possible moment during this process.
