Mall employee: 'We were never trained for this'
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CLACKAMAS, Ore. - When Ashley Oakes started working at the clothing store, Wet Seal, she never imagined her duties as co-manager would involve protecting customers.
"We were never trained for this; we were never trained for a mall shooting and so we're like, 'Go into protective mode. We're here to protect our employees and customers, it's not about us anymore," said Oakes who doesn’t feel like a hero but put the safety of children and shoppers above her own when a gunman opened fire Tuesday afternoon at the Clackamas Town Center.
Her store sits about seven shops away from the food court were police say 22-year-old Jacob Tyler Roberts started shooting, killing two, injuring another and then turning the gun on himself.
"There were little kids in our store; there were moms in our store; there were parents in our store – every age was pretty much in our store," Oakes said. "We just told them – about 10-11 people – 'Get to the back, get to the back!'"
Then Oakes and her co-workers raced to the front of the store to lock up.
"(We) looked at each other and we just go, 'The gate, the gate, we have to get the gate,'" she said.
With police then swarming the mall and the shots ending, Oakes thought it was finally safe to step out and that's when she took a photo of a heartbreaking scene.
"They were trying to stop the bleeding," Oakes said. "There was a woman sitting on top of her. I don't know if she was sitting or not, but she was trying to do CPR."
Oakes went back to her store and did everything to keep calm, relaying only certain information until police showed up.
"There're kids. They don't need to be subjected to that," she said.
And then she followed all of her customers as they safely exited the mall.
Oakes said she was just doing her job.
"Just looking at the kids, someone's kids, someone's family, you think of your own family. You would hope someone would do that for you kind of thing."
Oakes said as they were leaving, one person said, 'Thank you for saving my life.' But she still doesn't feel like a hero.
She also spoke about how she's still dealing with anxiety and how going back to work will likely be difficult.
I stand and salute you! You are the person I would want at a store I was shopping if my child and I were in danger.
The amazing stories of those that worked in the mall to care for the shoppers are really incredible. Everyone took care of the other person, without regard to how it would be in the end.Â
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Really - Well done!
'Oakes said she was just doing her job.'
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No, Ms Oakes, you were acting as a compassionate person. An individual who embraces and utilizes her compassion and intellect to operate in an emotionally stressed and confusing situation to protect others.Â
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There were a LOT of 'heroes' in Clackamas Town Center that day, and you should count yourself among them. There are moments in life when everyone will likely have such opportunities thrust upon them, I pray that they are not in similar circumstances or outcomes, the best among us react not exclusively in defense of ourselves, but also in defense of others. It's the one reality that gives me sincere hope for the future of our communities, our state, our country and our world.Â
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"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
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- Rev ML King, Jr.
Ashley, the best way to keep this from developing into a full post traumatic stress disorder or increase your anxiety any higher is to get right back out there and live. Â Do what you need and want to do. Â You've lived this long without any other experience like this. Â Odds are in your favor that it will never, ever happen again.
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The sooner you are able to get back to your "normal" life, the better. Â And talk about it with supportive people. Â If you need counseling (or medication), then that's ok for now, too. Â A little help now will save you a lifetime of fear and second-guessing yourself and your judgement.
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Each day does get easier. Â The memories will never completely fade but they will dim. Â And your experience will be shared with countless other people who, in turn, will have a better understanding on how to respond to a situation similar (but not the same as) to this one.
these buisiness better show some appreciation to their employees that went above and beyond, I would suggest maybe some extra payed time off along w maybe a paid vacation to the coast or something, doesn't need to be expensive, but show that they do appreciate what they did
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Well formal training or not the folks here did the right thing.
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The mall itself can go into lock down, but the shops have to close down manually. The time it takes for the powered gate to close must have seemed like an eternity.
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But those gates are tough, I have seen an errant car in the mall roll into one and it barely get damaged. A good defense from an armed man. Not bullet proof but it will keep him as far away as possible and then hiding in the back will keep you out of sight. IF you cannot escape, hiding behind one of those gates is a reasonable option.
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I will have to say, all in all this was one of the best outcomes we could have hoped for. Three people shot by a person wielding was is arguably a fairly accurate gun, in a reasonably close quarters with numerous available rounds and three significant victims? Most everything had to go right for that kind of outcome.
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I have to say every employee I have heard from has done the most reasonable thing I can think of, get out, get out of sight, hide and secure your position. In that order, with outward confidence.
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Being brave is not stepping ion front of the bad guy to stop them. Being brave is doing everything you can to help keep as many people safe as you can even i you're not as safe.
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Ashley, your instincts were great. Â Your actions made you a real live hero. No, you didn't jump over buildings or swim rivers like fictional heros your thoughts were to protect the people in you immediate area and you did.
Thank you.
Apart from the military, the FBI and the Secret Service, who IS trained for this sort of situation?
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 @archon312 I heard on the radio yesterday about how mall employees were "trained" for this. I thought it unlikely when I heard it. This story just affirms that initial impression.
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That said, kudos to all who went above and beyond.
So, I guess the hype about "mall employees were trained for this" is BS.
 @Conspirator Undoubtedly at least some of the mall employees were trained (like security and, probably, management at the larger retailers) and was addressed in the safety training or handouts even the smaller retailers have.  Whether or not a situation EXACTLY like this was mentioned -- probably not.  The retailers also probably had quite a few new hires with the holiday season and they weren't really trained on too much (just to follow the lead of their more experienced co-workers).
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I did find that comment a bit odd, too, though, when I initially heard it. Â I'm not so sure I would have thought to lower the entrance gate (after all, it would also block the only exit point for many of these stores), though. Â Store room makes sense and many have the ability to lock. Â Maybe the companies need to look at including some type of panic alarm that will trigger the automatic lowering of the gate when activated (which, in turn, sends out an immediate response to dispatchers to be followed up with the calls)? Â This would keep employees further out of harm's way than many encountered when they had to personally walk up and lower the gate.
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I don't recall any of the stores at Lloyd Center when they've had shootings (usually gang related or robberies) go into any sort of lock down. Â I think it would be helpful if the police agencies in the area would collectively train/educate larger retailers in the event something like this were to happen again (that way, also, the police confusion would be eliminated a bit, too).
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One other interesting point, is that the police looked for the people wearing logo clothing or name badges to talk to to verify they weren't actually hostages but, instead, victims of the situation. Â Many retailers don't do the logo-clothing thing any more. Â It would be so much easier to switch a name badge (or a vest) than it would to find appropriate fitting logo clothing. Â Maybe it is time to gear up employees in logo'd (or color specific) clothing so that first responders would have an easier go at quickly assessing a situation. Â On the down side, that means the employees wouldn't be walking billboards for the clothing and shoes the retailer sells.
I think your idea of a "Panic Button" is a great one. While the cost might be a bit high, that you could hit it and have the place sealed off from a shooter getting in, sounds quite good and also, in a way, it could also be used to hold a person like this (Providing everyone else got out) until the cops show up.....
 @Mipsfer  @disgustedman Yes, but I'd gladly give up my life, if necessary, if countless others would survive.  But that's just me.
 @disgustedman OR you could be sealed IN with a shooter.
 @Conspirator They were trained to protect the cash register at all costs.
It's that light rail that's to blame and the liberals that built it. Clackamas was a nice place to live and work before that light rail came and with it all those criminals from Portland. Don't let them build any more of that light rail!
@realoldguy Interesting point of view. I used to live accross from that mall and long before light rail. Like many other areas that attract large crowds it was no more or less safe before light rail. It may be the first mass shooting but it is not the first time bad things have happened there. Even when the Sheriff's office was still in the mall there were problems at the foot court, theater, bank etc. women raped etc. it has all happened over a large span of time and so we move on and in many ways the mall seemed to be recovering from some sketchy past events. Suggesting light rail has anything to do with this is a seriously weak comment. I've seen it before, probably from you, but seriously are you just looking for something to say?
 @realoldguy You'd be better off in a nut house.  Oh, I think they built a new one for you in Salem.  Progress is inevitable. I think your name should be cranky old guy.  How did you make it this far with your attitutude?
 @realoldguy Clackamas was wrecked. as well as Happy Valley, too.
They were very peaceful communities until unbridled development
was permitted and the MAX criminal express was shoved down our throats.
Tear up the rails and sell them for scrap. We'd all be better off in the long run.
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 @pdxd  @realoldguy "In case you didn't pay attention to earlier reports, the shooter arrived at the mall in a 1996 VW Jetta"  So I think you are saying that is some small way HITLER is responsible for starting VW.   JK... all of the finger pointing cracks me up.  There was only one person at fault, and he is dead.
 @Siwash Sarcasm can be a beautiful thing! And yeah, someone will probably put the blame of the shooting on the shopping mall being there! Nope! Only person at fault, is the now deceased shooter.
 @realoldguy The shooter drove his car to the scene, so I'm not sure what light rail has to do with it, m'kay?
FEMA has a short, online course available for what the general public can do in the event of an active shooter. http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is907.asp
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 @bshopper63 I also enjoy the Run, Hide, Fight video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VcSwejU2D0 especially the part where the bad guy walks past the door with the obvious Texas 30.06 signage making it a gun free zone.
"that's when she took a photo of a heartbreaking scene."
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Did the reporter just put this in? Or did she actually take a photo of someone being attended to? The employees did a great job overall it appears.
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@Just Lookin Did you watch the video? You see the picture of what they were talking about. And COme on People! Instead of complaining, how about giving this girl a big way to go for saving those lives and keeping them safe! Not one person yet has said that. Good job Ashley!
dale quakenbush
I will type real slow for you. No one was complaining, it appears you are unable to read and comprehend. I was asking about the story.
In case you have difficulties reading, many have applauded her efforts. Not sure where you are coming from...
I find it interesting that heros never think they are heros. I am here to tell you Ashley, you are a hero and a credit to the human race.
 @RalphCramden That's a huge complement!  And well deserved, too.
Well, this girl obviously did an honorable thing, and she should be commended for that. Some people have an "every man for himself" mentality in these situations. I would have done the same thing she did as well had I been her shoes. It just shows that she's a decent human being. Maybe not quite a hero, but definitely a respectable person worthy of that recognition.
I've worked in retail for many many years.. I've seen employees held hostage, have witnessed many robberies and such over the years... Each time it's shocking, hard to get rid of the thought, but after time you begin to trust again, you begin to not even think of the event, of course this takes time.. Keep in mind, most people are good people, what happened was actually an isolated incident by someone who obviously was hurting really bad..
As time goes by this incident will not have the impact it does today..