Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Deputy Josh Warmath of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office escorts Emergency Medical Responders Dave Winger (right) and Dale Smith through a ‘warm zone’ in Sheffield Area Middle High School following the neutralization of an intruder during a Tuesday drill.

Sheffield was pretty quiet at 1 p.m. Tuesday, before the drill.

Then the shooting started.

And then the screaming.

During one of two active intruder drills Tuesday at Sheffield Area Middle High School and Elementary School, Warren County School District, law enforcement, and emergency medical responders teamed up.

The first shot rang out in the high school wing at 1:05 p.m.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Officers from multiple agencies close in on an intruder in Sheffield Area Elementary School during a Tuesday drill.

The screaming of children followed immediately.

Then more shots, every few seconds.

The first officers on the scene came through the door at 1:09 p.m.

They immediately witnessed some of the carnage — there were three victims within feet and two more visible down the hall.

A spent magazine was on the floor across from the door when the shooter had discarded it and reloaded.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Emergency Medical Responder and Firefighter Jacob Grove of Sheffield Volunteer Fire Department carries volunteer victim Alannah Knapp (gunshot wound to the foot) out of the Sheffield Area Middle High School library during a Tuesday active intruder drill.

More officers arrived in ones and twos for the next few minutes.

They followed the sound of shooting until a lethal confrontation in the elementary wing ended the rampage and the life of the shooter at 1:13 p.m.

While the shooter was taken down within four minutes of police entry, during the after-action briefing Capt. Jeff Dougherty of the City of Warren Police reminded all involved that every gunshot until then took a life. “That gun going off every 20, 30 seconds, that’s somebody dying,” he said.

The confrontation between police and the intruder was handled with simulated ammunition — Simunition. Officers can use their own familiar weapons, loaded with paint rounds that fire fairly accurately and leave no question where they struck.

The intruder had a weapon loaded with blanks for the first part of the drill and the first 20 or more gunshots that rang out in the building were very loud.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Officer Wade Suppa of City of Warren Police escorts Persephanie Harkins of Sheffield Ambulance and EmergyCare through a ‘warm zone’ in Sheffield Area Middle High School following the neutralization of an intruder during a Tuesday drill.

After that, the intruder was armed with Simunition like those looking for him.

The final battle took place in the curving hall of the elementary school, with the intruder struck multiple times, including at least one fatal shot. No officers were reported “injured” by return gunfire.

After law enforcement agents neutralized the known threat, they set out to secure the building and make sure there were no other threats.

As they cleared areas, officers then escorted emergency medical services personnel into the building and provided protection for them. The EMS personnel inside addressed the victims they encountered, getting them out of the building as quickly as it was safe to do so. Outside, more responders waited to triage, treat, and transport patients as needed.

District Safety and Security Coordinator Brandon Deppen, who was in charge of the drill, said key personnel had undergone Rescue Task Force training on Monday and used information and techniques learned there in Tuesday’s drill.

Moving EMS into the “warm zone” of the building — places where there is potential danger, but not where the known suspect is — was a new effort, one that is designed to save more lives without risking more.

It worked. “We got more people out more quickly than we did at the last drill,” Sharon Fasenmyer of Glade Volunteer Fire Department said.

Participating in the drill were Warren County School District, City of Warren Police, Warren County Public Safety, Pennsylvania State Police, Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Warren County Adult Probation, Youngsville Borough Police, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, Sheffield Volunteer Fire Department, Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department, Glade Volunteer Fire Department, and EmergyCare.

Warren General Hospital also participated in the drill, but did not accept patients due to concerns about COVID-19. “They ran their own drill,” Deppen said. “They were given the information over the radio.”

There were 10 law enforcement agents, 14 EMS and fire personnel, and a number of volunteer victims who took part in the morning drill.

Organizers thanked those responders who participated, some of whom took vacation days from work to be able to do so.

“The drill, to me, was very realistic,” Dougherty said. “The more participation we get, the better we will be able to respond.”