Katy police ran a full-scale active-shooter drill inside an OshKosh B'gosh store at Katy Mills Mall on Oct. 18, the first time a retailer joined the annual exercise.

The four-hour training scenario, first reported by The Katy News, ran from about 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. that Sunday. It drew the Katy Police Department, Katy Fire Department, ESD 200, Willowfork Fire Department, EMS crews, mall security and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers.

Previous drills had been held in common areas such as the food court or mall entrances, Officer Robert Hughes said. This year, the children's clothing store volunteered its space for a simulated attack with multiple mock casualties.

"This is a training exercise for us to train for active-shooter response … every year we do this, we get a little bit better at it," Katy Police Chief Byron Woytek said. He added that the recurring drills help experienced officers sharpen their skills while preparing newer employees.

Hughes said the training was a response to an uptick in violent events. Organizers stressed the exercise was planned in advance and was not prompted by any specific threat.

The City of Katy had posted a public notice ahead of the drill, warning residents they might see emergency vehicles and increased activity near the mall.

How the scenario played out

Officers entered the store to neutralize a simulated attacker, then began treating mock victims before handing off to fire and EMS crews for advanced medical care and ambulance transport. Officer Lewis Landon played the role of the attacker and "took a fake bullet to the head for the team," according to The Katy News.

Woytek said the response does not end when a threat is stopped. Getting medics and ambulances safely to injured victims is equally important, he said. Police officers accompany medical crews as they enter to keep them safe, and responders must keep access routes clear for emergency vehicles.

A decade of expanding partnerships

Woytek said the department has run similar exercises at Katy Mills for roughly a decade. The drills started as an agency-only effort and have expanded over time to include regional partners. He noted the same principles apply at smaller locations such as schools or businesses.

Katy City Secretary Becky McGrew said she attended the exercise to observe how public information is managed during a crisis. McGrew serves as the city's public information officer during hurricanes and other large-scale events. She said watching the coordination helps her prepare for that role and identify gaps she might need to fill.