U.S. Navy Calls Active Shooter Incident ‘Improper Use’ of Notification System
Update, 6:20 p.m.: The U.S. Navy, via Twitter, is now saying the active shooter incident at Walter Reed was a drill … sort of. Here’s the exchange.
The active shooter event aboard Naval Support Activity Bethesda today was the result of the improper use of a mass notification system by a tenant command aboard the installation. While preparing for an upcoming drill, the notification system was inadvertently enacted… (1/3)
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) November 27, 2018
… On further investigation, they determined that the improper use of the system was the root cause and secured from the active-shooter response. (3/3)
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) November 27, 2018
Update, 3:47 p.m.: The “active shooter” at Walter Reed Naval Medical Hospital on Tuesday was a false alarm, but it was not a scheduled drill, a spokesman on the base said.
Jeremy Brooks, spokesman for Naval Support Activity Bethesda, said there were reports of an active shooter in Building 19, one of the buildings of the medical facility.
The base’s security personnel cleared the basement and then the rest of the building, he said. In the meantime, the base was locked down and the gates were closed.
“Once the building was cleared we let everyone resume their activity,” Brooks said.
Investigators are now looking into the source of the call.
Update, 3:32 p.m.: U.S. Navy’s Twitter feed has reported that there was no active shooter. And that this was a drill by the “tenant command.”
CONFIRMED: No active shooter at Naval Support Activity Bethesda. Was ad hoc drill by tenant command. https://t.co/P9N65mMdOA
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) November 27, 2018
Update, 3:30 p.m.: The Montgomery County MD Police Scanner Facebook page said the active shooter could be a training drill.
“Nothing’s been found to suggest there’s an active shooter on campus at this point,” said Dr. Earl Stoddard, director of the county’s Department of Homeland Security.
Original post: The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center was responding to reports of an active shooter on the Bethesda facility.
The reports have been confused by one news report that say the “all clear” had been sounded and Montgomery County police minutes later saying officers had been dispatched to the site to assist.
Here’s how Naval Support Activity Bethesda reported the incident on its Twitter feed:
ALERT – ALERT – ALERT
1434, UPDATE: Please be aware that all gates are closed until further notice.1420, UPDATE: First responders are on scene and initial reports indicate there are no signs of an active shooter. We will continue to post updates as we get information.
— Naval Support Activity Bethesda (@nsabethesda) November 27, 2018
1415, 27NOV18: There is a report of an active shooter in the Bldg. 19 basement. If you are on the installation, go to the nearest available vehicle, structure, or building that provides a measure of protection and lockdown. If you are not on the installation, stay away.
— Naval Support Activity Bethesda (@nsabethesda) November 27, 2018
1455, UPDATE: Base security has cleared the basement of Bldg. 19, they are in the process of clearing the rest of the building. No indication so far of an active shooter.
— Naval Support Activity Bethesda (@nsabethesda) November 27, 2018
Update: Spokesperson for @nsabethesda says security has not found any evidence of a shooter.
Security has cleared the basement where the report of an active shooter originated and is in the process of clearing the rest of the building. https://t.co/sxEUFA7YYu
— The Baltimore Sun (@baltimoresun) November 27, 2018
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