News

Actions

USF reviews OSU campus attack

Posted at 11:13 PM, Nov 28, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-29 02:10:25-05

The attack at the Ohio State Universitywas closely being monitored here by USF Police as it unfolded.

Lt. Charlotte Domingo with USF Police said they train for active shooter scenarios and review tragic incidents on other campuses to determine if there is anything they need to adjust in their own plan.

"We're always aware there is a potential for these kinds of incidents to take place. That's one reason why we train so consistently and frequently," Lt. Domingo said.

Lt. Domingo said students are told to run, hide, fight. OSU students were told to do the same thing this morning.

Before 10 a.m., the OSU Emergency Management twitter account wrote, "Buckeye Alert: Active Shooter on campus. Run Hide Fight. Watts Hall. 19th and College".

The Department of Homeland Security wants people to run, hide, fight if there is an active shooter situation near them.

"Run and escape, if you can. Hide if you can't run. Fight if it comes down to it," Lt. Domingo said.

Lt. Domingo said USF has a number of plans and safety programs in place for students and staff.

ABC Action News spoke to an Ohio mom whose son is a student at OSU. She said he ran back into a building to hide with other students.

"I stayed on the phone with him the whole time that he was in there," Tami Friedman said.

She said she also stayed on the phone with him until he made it home safely.

"I just wanted to be able to hear his voice and it's an awful feeling. I wish it on no one," Friedman said.

She said she felt helpless. She also said she is thinking about the people who were injured and about authorities quick response to the active shooter.

"He {my son} felt safe (and) secure where he was and we got emails so it seems to me like it was handled very well," Friedman said.