WHEELING — Local first responders held a large-scale active shooter training exercise on Wheeling University’s campus on Tuesday with several students playing the part of mock victims.

Unloaded AirSoft guns were used for sound effects during the scenario that involved what appeared to be at least two faux shooters taking over Swint Hall.

A small black van pulled up to the building with the two shooters exiting the vehicle wearing face masks and carrying imitation guns.

They began shooting at students outside of the building and then entered where more shots could be heard.

Minutes went by and then Wheeling Police Department cruisers arrived with officers making their way into the building. Student actors could be heard screaming for help outside as the officers arrived on the scene. Ohio County Sheriff’s deputies also arrived on the scene to help. Additional law enforcement in unmarked cars arrived thereafter.

EMS personnel from the Wheeling Fire Department and numerous other local fire departments were called to the scene to take the mock victims to WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital and WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital in Glen Dale. The students had simulated wounds on their bodies thanks to theater department makeup artists on site.

In addition to students being taken away in ambulances, one of the mock shooters could also be seen on a stretcher and was loaded into an ambulance. Deputies rode with the shooter in the ambulance.

In total, about 100 law enforcement officers, EMS and students took part in the training. Prior to its start, organizers briefed the participants in Swint Hall’s Troy Theater.

Lou Vargo, director of the Ohio County Emergency Management Agency, said planning for the training took about seven months. He said keeping everyone safe during the exercise was a big priority.

Wheeling Police Department Chief Shawn Schwertfeger said Wheeling Police Department Maj. Bill Noice led the planning effort.

“This is a very large exercise and there was a ton of work done in preparing for it,” Schwertfeger said. “For those of you participating, this is not an opportunity to embarrass you. Things are going to screw up just like the real world … things are going to happen.

“We have not had an active shooter in the city of Wheeling since 2013 … Someone with an AK was in the parking lot across the street from the Federal Building unloading a 30-round magazine. Most of you probably don’t know anything about that because nobody died that day except the shooter. So it can happen anywhere at any time, and the only thing we can do is to prepare.”

Schwertfeger told the first responders that they would be thrown into “mass chaos” during the scenario.

“All you can do is take a few breaths and lean on your training,” he added.

After the briefing, Schwertfeger said his memories of the 2013 Federal Building incident played a “big role” in preparing for Tuesday’s event and how he planned to evaluate the staff and command post’s work.

He added that it was an honor to work with the fire department, law enforcement, EMS stations, hospitals and the many outside agencies helping to serve as evaluators as well.

Wheeling Fire Department Chief Jim Blazier said to make the scenario more realistic first responders were not given details about it ahead of time.

“When these events happen in real life it requires that coordination between multiple agencies, and if you don’t practice you’re not going to be good at it,” Blazier said. “This is a chance for us to practice and identify shortcomings and correct those problems. And moving forward, have other drills and hopefully we never have the real ones. But if we do, we will be more prepared.”

Dianna Vargo, chief operations officer at Wheeling University, thanked the agencies involved for allowing the university to be part of the training.

“This exercise will provide us with an opportunity to have a learning experience as we enhance our safety plan,” she said. “And we would like to thank our faculty and staff for participating.”