Civilian intervention

Throughout this report, numerous examples illustrate the individual bravery demonstrated by law enforcement officers, security personnel, and civilians who took action to stop or attempt to stop an attack.

While law enforcement response remains crucial to neutralizing threats, in 2025, civilian and security personnel interventions played a unique role in ending multiple incidents.

Characterized by their ongoing nature, these situations offer a crucial window during which both citizens and law enforcement have the potential to intervene and save lives.

On Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at approximately 12:01 p.m., an 18 year old male armed with a shotgun began shooting at people inside the Jackson County Public Library, injuring one person. A civilian intervened and restrained the shooter until law enforcement arrived.

Law enforcement apprehended the shooter at the scene following civilian intervention.

A nearby guardsman opened fire on the shooter, detaining him until he was apprehended by law enforcement.

Out of the 156 civilian casualties, at least three occurred while civilians were actively attempting to stop the shooter.

At KDC/One warehouse in New Albany, Ohio, a civilian disarmed the shooter, who then fled and was caught the next day at a different location.

At Sky Meadow Country Club in New Hampshire, a civilian disarmed the shooter, a former employee by striking him with a chair. The shooter left the immediate area and was apprehended by law enforcement.

Civilian, law enforcement, and security intervention was a key factor in several shooter resolutions.

For example, civilians disarmed/subdued shooters at locations such as KDC/One Warehouse and Sky Meadow Country Club, both shooters were apprehended.

At the Border Patrol facility, as the shooter opened fire, a civilian employee arriving at work attempted to intervene by firing towards the shooter from his vehicle.

At the Jackson County Public Library in Indiana, a shooter opened fire inside the library during operating hours. The attack ended after a civilian tackled the shooter and restrained him until police arrived.

Members of the targeted population intervened in half of the attacks.

For example, at the Jackson County Public Library, the shooter injured one person before he was tackled and restrained by a civilian which ended the attack. Similarly, at the military installation in Georgia, unarmed soldiers subdued the shooter.

At the Border Patrol Annex, a civilian employee fired at the shooter prior to law enforcement arrival.

Yes | 3 No | 3

The shootings at Jackson County Public Library and the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team complex were the only two incidents where shooters were apprehended by law enforcement (both involved civilian intervention).

At CrossPointe Community Church in Michigan, the shooter began firing outside as service began but was killed by armed security after civilian intervention.

Two shootings involved intervention prior to law enforcement response.

During The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints incident, a congregant fired his personal weapon at the shooter but was wounded in return gunfire.

At CrossPointe Community Church, a congregant struck the shooter with his vehicle and armed church security personnel exchanged gunfire with the attacker, killing him.

In 2025, civilians intervened in seven active shooter incidents. In more than one in five incidents (21%), members of the targeted population confronted the shooter, an increase compared to one in 24 incidents (4%) in 2024. In three incidents, civilians who intervened sustained injuries. | Civilian

Of the 34 attacks, civilians intervened in 50% at government locations, 67% at houses of worship, and 14% at commerce locations. However, civilian intervention was not reported in education or open space location | House of

During these incidents, civilians took a range of actions.

In four attacks, they successfully disarmed and/or restrained the shooter, while in three, they used weapons to intervene.

At the Sky Meadow Country Club shooting, a civilian hit the shooter with a chair, disarming and causing him to flee.

At the KDC/One Warehouse shooting, civilians disarmed the shooter, forcing him from the scene.

In the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team Complex shooting, unarmed soldiers disarmed and restrained the suspect until military police arrived; and in the Jackson County Public Library incident, civilians overpowered the shooter during a shotgun malfunction.

Law enforcement apprehended the shooters at the scene in all cases except the KDC/One Warehouse incident, where officers captured the shooter the following day at a different location.

In three incidents, members of the targeted populations confronted the shooters using firearms or other weaponized objects.

At the Border Patrol Annex and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shootings, civilians fired personal firearms at the shooters before law enforcement arrived.

At CrossPointe Community Church, a civilian used his vehicle to strike the shooter.

In all three incidents, the shooters were killed at the scene.

In most incidents involving civilian intervention, shooters used a single firearm. Three shooters used a handgun, two used a rifle, and one used a shotgun.

this report, civilians refer to individuals who are neither law enforcement officers nor security personnel. Members of the military are included as civilians unless they are armed military police or federally deputized members of the National Guard.

At CrossPointe Community Church, a parishioner struck the shooter with a vehicle before security team members engaged and killed the attacker at the scene. One security team member sustained injuries during the incident.

Shooters Killed by Citizen | - | - | - | 2 | 4

This table summarizes incidents involving civilian intervention from 2021 through 2025, including shooter resolution and the number of civilians injured during the intervention.

Over the five-year period, attacks involving civilian intervention accounted for 12% of all incidents (26), resulting in 12 civilian intervention casualties.