SAN ANTONIO – More than 20 officers from various law enforcement agencies participated in an active shooter drill at McArthur High School Thursday.
The Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training trains officers to isolate, distract and neutralize an active shooter.
"If you are a gun-toting individual that is a peace officer, I highly recommend going through this class because you may be the one who is going to respond to this type of situation," said ALERRT instructor Jeff Waters.
Thursday's scenario included a lone gunman who had barricaded himself inside a classroom and taken several students hostage.
"Where's the principal?" shouted the fake gunman before ducking into a classroom.
As officers approached the classroom, they made contact with the shooter.
"What do I call you?" asked East Central ISD Officer Laura Hernandez-Tobias.
"Call me Joe," shouted the gunman.
The gunman told officers that he would start shooting students if they didn't leave by the time it took him to count down from 10.
As the man said "three," the officers interacted with the hostages in the doorway.
"When we tell you to run, you run," said one of the training officers.
The two hostages ducked out of the way as the officers entered the classroom and shot the gunman.
Hernandez-Tobias said the 16 hours of instruction she's received over the last two days was invaluable and could be used in any situation.
"Whether it's a school, restaurant, any business, we are going to be able to take action," she said, "We have officers that are in the service for 30 years and officers that have one year experience and (training) is needed.
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