Monmouth County law enforcement officials conducted an active shooter drill at a Manasquan school Friday on the 19th anniversary of the mass shooting at Columbine High School.

“The more real we can make the scene, the better it prepares those people who are going to be first responders,” says Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni.

Gun violence, particularly gun violence in schools, has been on the minds of many ever since a school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

“You can’t tabletop this. You can’t tabletop this kind of exercise,” say Monmouth County Sheriff Shawn Golden. “A real-life exercise is beneficial for everyone involved.”

Students volunteered to participate in the drill. Many played gunshot victims and casualties. Various members of Monmouth County’s first responders participated.

“If we’re ever faced with a situation like this, we hopefully come out with little or no casualties,” Gramiccioni says. “But God forbid if we do, we extinguish the threat as soon as possible and return the children and victims to their families.”

Monmouth County first responders are split up into four quadrants. Today's drill included those from the southern quadrant. The three others will have similar drills in the near future.