What is an active shooter?

An active shooter is specifically defined as an armed individual who is actively engaging in deadly physical force against people in a populated area and has the potential to access more victims. The essence of the term centers around the immediate and ongoing threat to life that poses significant danger to individuals within a certain vicinity.

This definition emphasizes the urgency of the situation, indicating that the shooter is not only armed but is also in the act of causing harm, thereby necessitating immediate response and intervention. The focus is on the active and potentially escalating nature of the situation, which is critical for appropriate incident response and public safety measures.

In contrast, options describing an individual with a plan to escape, a law enforcement officer responding to a threat, or a person firing a weapon without hitting anyone do not align with the established definition of an active shooter, as they do not convey the immediate threat or active engagement with multiple potential victims.