ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) – A false report of an active shooter at the U.S. Naval Academy resulted in one person being injured within the Maryland military institution, according to official statements. The incident occurred on Thursday, and the injured individual was airlifted to a hospital where they were reported to be in stable condition, as confirmed by Lt. Naweed Lemar, the spokesperson for the academy's base.
By Friday morning, Lt. Lemar announced that the lockdown imposed earlier had been lifted, and the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis was given the "all clear." An investigation into the false report is currently underway, according to the spokesperson.
The Naval Support Activity Annapolis security team, along with local law enforcement, responded promptly to reports of suspicious activity that arose on Thursday evening. However, additional specifics regarding the circumstances of the person's injury have not yet been disclosed.
During the incident, police presence was notably strong near Bancroft Hall, which is known for housing midshipmen in more than 1,600 dormitory rooms, making it the largest single college dormitory in the world according to information from the academy's website.
Colin Campbell, a student from St. John’s College located nearby, recounted hearing multiple alarms sounding from the academy after 5 p.m. that warned of an "active threat" over the loudspeakers. He described the noise as "extraordinarily loud," with several speakers activating simultaneously.
Lucille Trott, another student at St. John’s College who resides across the street from the academy, expressed her fear during the alert, particularly given the recent spate of gun violence observed across the country. She remarked on the week's events, stating, "On 9/11, the week that we’ve been having, so many shootings, so much gun violence, I feel like there needs to be a major shift in just the climate right now," emphasizing the heightened tension in society.
In light of these events, local authorities continue to investigate the incident while community members reflect on the growing sense of unease surrounding public safety. The swift response by law enforcement highlights the seriousness with which such threats are treated, especially in educational settings like the U.S. Naval Academy.
As the situation develops, the safety protocols at military institutions and schools will likely undergo scrutiny, aiming to enhance the response mechanisms to such alarming false reports in the future.
