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News

Photos: VCU, Richmond hold active shooter drill

VPM | By Shaban Athuman
Published August 3, 2023 at 2:27 PM EDT
A person carries a sign that reads "VCU POLICE EXERCISE, SIMULATED EMERGENCY| Realistic sounds and behaviors will be utilized."
1 of 25  — A person carries a sign that reads "VCU POLICE EXERCISE, SIMULATED EMERGENCY Realistic sounds and behaviors will be utilized."
An official gets ready for VCU and the City of Richmond to conduct an active shooter training exercise on Wednesday at the University Student Commons on VCU’s Monroe Park campus in Richmond.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Scarbrough holds one of Ginger Gutting’s hands as he applies makeup to create scars
2 of 25  — Scarbrough holds one of Gutting’s hand as he aplies make up to create scars
Ryan Scarbrough [left] applies makeup to Ginger Gutting [right] as they prepare to participate in a joint VCU and city of Richmond active shooter training exercise on Wednesday at the University Student Commons on VCU’s Monroe Park campus in Richmond.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Scarbrough uses paint on Gutting’s hand to create scars
3 of 25  — Scarbrough uses paint on Gutting’s hand to create scars
Ryan Scarbrough applies makeup to Ginger Gutting as they prepare to participate in a joint VCU and city of Richmond active shooter training exercise on Wednesday at the University Student Commons on VCU’s Monroe Park campus in Richmond.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Sitting on the left, Tarsha Robinson applies makeup onto Robert Sullivan. Sitting on the right, Megan Middleton creates a hole exposing a painted scar on Samantha Hudler.
4 of 25  — Sitting on the left Robinson aplies make up onto Sullivan sitting on the right Middleton creates a hole exposing a painted car on Hudler
Tarsha Robinson, Region EMS council program coordinator [left] applies makeup to Robert Sullivan as Megan Middleton [right] the training director at Old Dominion EMS, puts the finishing touch to Samantha Hudler’s makeup while they participate in a joint VCU and city of Richmond active shooter training exercise on Wednesday at the University Student Commons on VCU’s Monroe Park campus in Richmond.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A hand painting an apparent gunshot wound onto the temple of Robert Sullivan.
5 of 25  — Robinson painted an apparent gunshot wound onto the temple of Sullivan.
Tarsha Robinson, Region EMS council program coordinator, applies makeup to Robert Sullivan as they prepare to participate in a joint VCU and city of Richmond active shooter training exercise on Wednesday.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Police Chief John Venuti walks with his hand onto his hip to give remarks
6 of 25  — Chief Venuti walks with his hand onto his hip to give remarks
John Venuti, VCU's associate vice president for public safety, gets ready to give remarks before participating in a Wednesday active shooter training exercise at the University Student Commons.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A room filled with different first responders from surrounding counties in the region.
7 of 25  — A room filled with different first responders from the surrounding counties. 
Participants get briefed before VCU and the City of Richmond conduct an active shooter training exercise on Wednesday.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Two people with bright yellow and green vests make their way from one building to another
8 of 25  — Two people with a yellow and green vest make their way from one building to another
Participants take their places as VCU and the City of Richmond conduct an active shooter training exercise on Wednesday at the University Student Commons on VCU’s Monroe Park campus.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Officials make their way to their positions to observe an active shooter training exercise.
9 of 25  — Officials make their way to their positions for Observation.
Participants take their places as VCU and the City of Richmond conduct an active shooter training exercise on Wednesday at the University Student Commons on VCU’s Monroe Park campus.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Someone with simulated gunshot wounds to their chest during an active shooter training exercise
10 of 25  — A person portraying a gunshot wound victim
A person participates in a VCU and the city of Richmond active shooter training exercise on Wednesday at the University Student Commons.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
People make their way to their stations for the active shooter training exercise
11 of 25  — People make their way to their station
Police are shown participating in a joint VCU and city of Richmond active shooter training exercise on Wednesday at the University Student Commons on VCU’s Monroe Park campus.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Police make their way up the stairs as a person takes a picture
12 of 25  — Police make their way up the stairs as a person takes a picture
People are shown participating in a joint VCU and city of Richmond active shooter training exercise on Wednesday at the University Student Commons.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
First responders make their way to their positions during an active shooter training exercise.
13 of 25  — First responders make their way to their position.
People participate in a joint VCU and city of Richmond active shooter training exercise on Wednesday at the University Student Commons.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A policeman holds a fake plastic gun as he makes his way through the building.
14 of 25  — A policeman holds a plastic gun as he makes his way through the building.
A policeman is shown participating in a joint VCU and city of Richmond active shooter training exercise on Wednesday at the University Student Commons on VCU’s Monroe Park campus.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A policeman holds a fake plastic gun as he makes his way through the building as an observer looks on
15 of 25  — A policeman holds a plastic gun as he makes his way through the building as an observer looks on
People participate in a joint VCU and the city of Richmond active shooter training exercise on Wednesday at the University Student Commons on VCU’s Monroe Park campus.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A policeman holds a fake plastic gun and a shield as he makes his way through the building.
16 of 25  — A policeman holds a plastic gun as he makes his way through the building.
People participate in a VCU and the city of Richmond active shooter training exercise on Wednesday at the University Student Commons on VCU’s Monroe Park campus.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Policemen hold fake plastic guns as they make their way through the building.
17 of 25  — Policemen hold plastic guns as they makes their way through the building.
Police with fake guns are shown participating in a joint VCU and city of Richmond active shooter training exercise on Wednesday.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Policemen hold fake plastic guns as they make their way through the building.
18 of 25  — Policemen hold plastic guns as they makes their way through the building.
People participate in a joint VCU and city of Richmond active shooter training exercise on Wednesday at the University Student Commons ons at the VCU Monroe Park campus.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Policemen hold fake plastic guns as they make their way through the building as observers take notes during an active shooter exercise
19 of 25  — Policemen hold plastic guns as they makes their way through the building as observers take notes
People participate in a joint VCU and city of Richmond active shooter training exercise on Wednesday at VCU’s Monroe Park campus.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
A policeman holds a fake plastic gun as he makes his way through the building as an observer looks on
20 of 25  — A policeman holds a plastic gun as he makes his way through the building as an observer looks on
People participate in a joint VCU and city of Richmond active shooter training exercise on Wednesday at VCU's Monroe Park campus.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Policemen hold fake plastic guns as they make their way through the campus
21 of 25  — Policemen hold plastic guns as they makes their way through the campus
People participate in a VCU and the City of Richmond active shooter training exercise on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at the University Student Commons on VCU’s Monroe Park Campus in Richmond, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Policemen hold fake plastic guns and shields as they make their way through the campus during an active shooter training exercise
22 of 25  — Policemen hold plastic guns as they makes their way through the campus
Police are shown participating in a joint VCU and city of Richmond active shooter training exercise on Wednesday, on VCU's Monroe Park campus.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Policemen hold fake plastic guns as they make their way through the campus, while first responders lay on the ground, simulating being shot and killed.
23 of 25  — Policemen hold plastic guns as they make their way through the campus, while first responders lay on the ground, simulating being shot and killed.
Police are shown participating in a joint VCU and city of Richmond active shooter training exercise on Wednesday on VCU's Monroe Park campus.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Policemen hold fake plastic guns as they make their way through the campus escorting a wounded person during an active shooter training exercise
24 of 25  — Policemen hold plastic guns as they makes their way through the campus escorting a wounded person
Police are shown participating in a joint VCU and city of Richmond active shooter training exercise on Wednesday at VCU's Monroe Park campus.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Policemen hold fake plastic guns as they make their way through the campus
25 of 25  — Policemen hold plastic guns as they makes their way through the campus
People are shown participating in a joint VCU and city of Richmond active shooter training exercise at VCU's Monroe Park campus.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News

Officials practiced simulated emergencies inside and outside the University Student Commons.

On Wednesday, VCU and the city of Richmond conducted an active shooter training exercise on VCU’s Monroe Campus. The exercise included the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and other regional and state officials.

Law enforcement and university emergency management practiced simulated emergencies inside and outside the University Student Commons with volunteers roleplaying as injured victims and witnesses. The training gave them practice responding to a shooting event, according to VCU News, and it included sounds of simulated gun fire and crowd panic.

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News VCURichmondPublic safety
Shaban Athuman
Shaban Athuman was born in a Tanzanian refugee camp and grew up in Roanoke, where he fell in love with photography.
See stories by Shaban Athuman