Walter Reed Medical Center On Lockdown Amid Reports Of Shot Fired
Law enforcement personnel from several agencies — military and civilian — are on the scene at Maryland’s Walter Reed Medical Center following a report of a single shot fired from a gun in the building, CBS News is reporting.
At about 10:48 a.m. local time, according to Bethesda Magazine, Montgomery County Police received a call of a single shot fired. Immediately, law enforcement from several agencies descended on the hospital, snarling traffic in the area.
Meanwhile, personnel on duty at the hospital were “sheltering in place” — that is, taking refuge in a small room with no windows, such as a closet. The campus is currently on lockdown, as of this post.
The U.S. Navy, on its official Twitter account, has been keeping the general public abreast of the situation.
#BREAKING: #USNavy DOD, NIH and County security personnel responding to unconfirmed active shooter report at Walter Reed/Bethesda. (1/2)
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) July 6, 2015
(2/2) #BREAKING: Walter Reed/Bethesda personnel sheltering in place. Cannot confirm any incidents, injuries or causalities. MTF. — U.S. Navy (@USNavy) July 6, 2015
The Navy also issued a statement to the media describing the situation at the Center, via the Washington Post.
“Naval Support Activity Bethesda is currently in lockdown and all base personnel are sheltering in place as a result of unconfirmed reports of an active shooter. DOD Security Force, NIH Police Force and County EMS and Medics have responded and are searching the area. More information to follow.”
As of this post, there has been no confirmation of the reports of a shot fired.
UPDATE on unconfirmed report of shot fired at #WalterReed / Bethesda. Security searching buildings. No confirmation of incident.
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) July 6, 2015
The Navy, meanwhile, has set up a website that will periodically update as the situation unfolds; you can read breaking information about the incident here.
The Walter Reed Medical center, opened in 1909, was known as the Walter Reed Army Medical Center until 2011, according to CBS News, when the military made the decision to consolidate three hospitals — Walter Reed, The National Naval Medical Center, and a third military hospital — into one unit to save money.
In 2007, the hospital became the subject of national disgrace following reports of substandard care being given to America’s wounded veterans.
[Image courtesy of: Getty Images / Chip Somodevilla]
