How is an active shooter incident most likely first dispatched?

The initial dispatch of an active shooter incident often starts with a preliminary assessment of the situation based on available information. The scenario typically emerges as a report indicating a shooting has occurred, leading to a response from a single engine or medic unit. This approach allows for the rapid deployment of resources to ascertain the situation's severity while gathering more information.

Dispatching a single engine or medic unit enables first responders to, first and foremost, confirm whether there is indeed an active shooter scenario unfolding, which then informs the scale and nature of the response. It is vital in these situations to assess the environment and determine if additional units, such as SWAT or additional medical support, are necessary based on the evolving circumstances.

In contrast, the other options suggest either an immediate multi-unit response or a significant threat detection without initial confirmation of the situation. This could lead to unnecessary allocation of resources or misinterpretation of the situation without the proper groundwork of understanding with initial responders on-site.