The El Paso Shooting Security Failure
On August 3, 2019, a gunman opened fire at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, killing 23 people and injuring 23 others– one of the deadliest mass shootings in modern U.S. history. The shooting sparked a national debate about gun violence, racism, domestic terrorism, emergency detection systems and gunshot detection systems. This case study will explore the reasons why the security of the building failed during the shooting. We are using Walmart as an example, but make no mistake this is relevant to every retail store across the country.
The Walmart store where the shooting took place had security cameras and hired off-duty police officers as security guards. However, the security measures were not enough to prevent the shooting from happening. The shooter was able to enter the building with his weapon and carried out the attack without any resistance from the security guards.
There were several reasons why security failed during the shooting. First, the guards were not trained to respond to an active shooter situation, and they did not have the necessary equipment to confront the shooter. Their role was mainly to deter theft and maintain order within the store. The guards were not notified or aware of the situation happening other than hearing shots and screams.
Second, the security cameras were not monitored in real-time, and there was no alarm system in place to alert the security guards or law enforcement of any suspicious activity or gunshots being fired. The shooter was able to enter the building with his weapon, and there was no gunshot detection system or alert triggered by the security cameras when the weapon was fired.
Third, there was no active shooter rapid response system in place. At 10:21 a.m., the shooter opened fire in the parking lot and proceeded to enter the Walmart building and continue firing. The first 911 was not placed until 10:39 a.m. 1,080 seconds after the first shot was fired. If a gunshot detection system had been in place, it could have automatically and nearly instantly relayed critical information that shots were fired, and where they came from, to law enforcement.
Fourth, the layout of the Walmart store was not conducive to effective security measures. The store had multiple entrances and exits, with no automated control system to lock doors or limit the general public from walking into an active shooting incident. This also made it easy for the shooter to enter the building unnoticed and carry out the attack.
The El Paso shooting highlights the need for improved security measures in public places, such as shopping centers, schools, banks and other public venues. Security cameras should be monitored in real-time, and there should be a gunshot detection system and automatic emergency notification system in place to alert law enforcement of any gunshots fired in the building. Public venues should have controllable entrances and a clear and directed escape route through available exits.
The El Paso shooting was a tragic event that highlighted the need for improved security measures in public places. The security of the Walmart store failed during the shooting due to a lack of effective security measures and a failure to immediately detect the active threat from the shooter. The lessons learned from the El Paso shooting can be applied to other venues to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.