LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — In the wake of a series of mass shootings that claimed seven lives across Nevada and New York, Donavin Britt, founder and chief instructor of the Las Vegas Combat Academy, is emphasizing the importance of preparedness and self-defense.
“Run. Hide. Fight. If you have to engage, fight with everything that you have,” Britt said, underscoring the critical order of actions to take during an active shooter situation. He stressed the necessity of being willing to inflict “maximum damage” if confronted, warning that attackers will not hesitate to do the same.
Britt advised that the first priority should be to distance oneself from the threat. “The first thing is try to get as much space from that person as possible,” he said. “There is probably no good reason that a person is walking around like that.”
Acknowledging the challenges of escaping in crowded environments such as casinos or office buildings, Britt recommended having a clear exit strategy, especially in busy areas like the Las Vegas Strip. “You do not know where people are going to go left or right. That is why I say, you have to have your plan,” he said. “I do not care what everyone else is doing. I know that exit is there, we are getting low, we are moving to the exit.”
At his academy, Britt conducts drills simulating gunfire to train individuals on how to react. “They understand what to do. He is shooting… long pause, what is happening? He is reloading. Right? Or maybe his weapon jammed. That is when I can get up and get out. That is my chance and time to move,” he explained.
Britt also encouraged office workers to be vigilant and aware of alternative exits in their buildings. “Even in your office building, places that you go every single day, you should know where your alternative exits are,” he said. “You should sit at your desk and scan, OK, if someone came in that front door, shooting right now. Which way would I go to get out of here?”…