Lessons Learned from the Colony Cottage Recreation Center Incident – August 20, 2025

On the evening of August 20, 2025, residents and staff at the Colony Cottage Recreation Center experienced a dangerous and unpredictable chain of events.

Thankfully, no one was injured, but the incident highlighted critical lessons for both residents and staff on how to respond during fluid, high-stress situations.

While I was not present that night, I have spoken with individuals who were at Colony when it unfolded, and their perspective gives us a chance to reflect, evaluate, and make recommendations to improve safety moving forward.

What Happened

• After a large card group finished playing, a resident discovered that someone had attempted to steal their golf cart and called the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO).

• Around the same time, residents at the pool finishing an evening water aerobics class also reported suspicious activity.

• Deputies and the SCSO Crime Scene Search Team responded and began processing evidence.

• Meanwhile, the suspect, later identified as Alan Grant, was at a nearby Walgreens where he attempted a carjacking and even fired rounds into an occupied vehicle.

• Grant later returned to the Colony parking lot, attempting yet another carjacking, which was stopped by deputies.

• As deputies were taking him into custody at gunpoint, Recreation Assistants (RAs) closing the pool unknowingly walked into the scene and even began videotaping the takedown.

While this ended without injury, it could have easily turned tragic.

What Went Well

1. Rapid Law Enforcement Response: Deputies were still on scene from the earlier calls and were able to stop Grant before more residents were victimized. Their presence almost certainly prevented further harm.

2. Buddy System for RAs ; The RAs did not attempt to close the facility alone. They worked together and carried their phones, which gave them an added measure of safety.

   
   

Areas for Improvement & Recommendations

1. Closing Procedures During Nearby Incidents

When a serious incident occurs nearby, recreation centers should immediately suspend all outdoor activities. Pools and exterior spaces can become isolated, making residents and staff easy targets.

• If the decision is made to keep a center open, all exterior doors should be locked and unused rooms secured.

• Doors in the Villages can still be opened from the inside, providing safe exits without leaving the building vulnerable.

  
  

2. Resident Awareness & Communication

Residents present at the Rec Center should have been informed of the nearby threat. A closed-door policy and basic safety briefing could have reassured participants and ensured no one wandered into danger.

3. Cell Phone Use & Videotaping

In today’s society, the instinct to film critical incidents is strong. However, recording should never come before personal safety. The RAs who walked into the armed takedown placed themselves in unnecessary danger.

• Training should emphasize evacuate first, record later.

  
  

4. Firearms & Civilian Response

Some have suggested residents carrying firearms would have solved the problem. While I am a strong advocate for armed citizens, armed civilians stop or prevent mass shootings in over 50% of documented cases, this situation was highly fluid.

An untrained or underprepared armed civilian could have made things worse. The key is not just owning or carrying a firearm, but training with it.

The truth remains:

• You don’t rise to the occasion, you fall back to your training.

• Knowing when to act is more important than knowing how to act.

  
  

Key Takeaways

• Situational Awareness Saves Lives – Avoiding dangerous situations is the safest outcome. The fight you never get into is a guaranteed win.

• Lock Doors, Limit Access – A locked door is statistically one of the best defenses.

• Communication Matters – Informing residents and staff can prevent confusion and keep people safe.

• Train for Reality – Armed civilians are often the first responders in critical incidents, but only training prepares you to act effectively and responsibly.

  
  

Final Thought

We cannot prevent every violent encounter. But we can learn, prepare, and adjust policies to make sure we are as safe as possible. At the end of the day, our goal is simple: avoid the encounter if possible, and win if we can’t.

The Colony Cottage incident should serve as a wake-up call that safety policies, awareness, and training are not optional, they are essential.