According to a CNN report (story here), the recent student death at the University of Central Florida began with a fire alarm. It appears that the student intended to draw people out into the open with the alarm. As the student possessed a handgun, an assault weapon, about 200 rounds of ammunition, and four homemade bombs, it also appears that he intended to use the ensuing crowd as targets.
Fortunately, the police response prevented this student's plan -- he shot himself in his dorm room instead of killing anyone else. A lesson that should be drawn from this incident, though, is that you should not allow an event like a fire alarm, a bomb threat, or a power outage to consume your attention and distract you from being aware of your surroundings. The disorder caused by an evacuation (even an orderly one) can provide a killer with the opportunity to cause great harm. Stay alert even in chaotic surroundings.
Fortunately, the police response prevented this student's plan -- he shot himself in his dorm room instead of killing anyone else. A lesson that should be drawn from this incident, though, is that you should not allow an event like a fire alarm, a bomb threat, or a power outage to consume your attention and distract you from being aware of your surroundings. The disorder caused by an evacuation (even an orderly one) can provide a killer with the opportunity to cause great harm. Stay alert even in chaotic surroundings.
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