In a shocking incident at the Hawthorn Center, a state-run children’s psychiatric hospital in Northville Township, Michigan, an unannounced active shooter drill left children and staff in terror, believing their lives were at risk. During the December 2022 drill, an intercom announcement warned of two armed intruders on site, leading patients and employees to barricade doors, hide under desks, and improvise weapons with whatever they could find.
The incident resulted in multiple lawsuits claiming severe emotional and psychological trauma among both patients and staff, some of whom are now reportedly suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has since settled these cases, awarding a total of $13 million to the affected parties. The settlement includes provisions for trauma care for the children and staff who lived through the harrowing experience.
Critics argue that such drills should never be conducted without prior notice, especially in sensitive environments like psychiatric hospitals. This incident has reignited discussions on the ethics and methods of active shooter training, particularly where children and vulnerable individuals are involved.
