Active shooter training session teaches Louisville bar workers how to keep staff, others safe

(Original WLKY Article Here) by Shaquille Lord on Nov 1, 2023

“The main goal is to help the staff understand what they need to do in the case of crisis so that they’re not trying to figure it out in the face of the enemy,” said Aaron McGahee, the owner of Rhinox Research Group, a firearm training and security consulting agency.

After serving three tours in the U.S. Air Force, he trains organizations to be proactive, rather than reactive.

“We have fire drills; we have multiple different emergency operation procedures – active shooter needs to be in that pot,” McGahee said.

Wednesday’s active shooter training comes weeks after police say 30-year-old Christopher Maze was shot and killed in the parking lot outside Fox Den on Frankfort Avenue.

Owner Jared Matthews says the security team member acted in self-defense.

“It’s a response that no one wants to take, but it had to be done, and I don’t think anything could have changed that, and it’s sad to say that, but I don’t think it could have changed,” Matthews told WLKY.

LMPD has not pressed any charges. Matthews says his staff learning how to handle a crisis, whether it’s first aid or noticing the warning signs, can make all the difference.

“You just don’t know where it’s going to happen. When it can happen, it can. It can happen anywhere. So, it’s definitely going to give me a great peace of mind to know that my guys have the education and the training,” Matthews said.