JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (AP) – Officials say first responders are working to secure the scene of an active shooter report at a military post near Washington.
Joint Base Andrews, which is about 20 miles outside the nation’s capital and is home to Air Force One, said in a tweet Thursday that the base was reacting to the active shooter report to ensure the safety of all personnel.
It was not immediately clear if any shots were fired or if anyone was wounded.
Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said there was an “unfolding situation” at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland but provided no other details.
The base tweeted Thursday morning that it was on lockdown after reports of an active shooter.
Emergency vehicles in the area of the base had on lights, but no sirens. At least three people in camouflage and helmets could be seen walking working dogs around the three-story building. About 10:15 a.m., a few people could be seen walking out of the building, including a person being moved in a wheelchair.
Helicopters hovered overhead, but it was unclear if they were news or military helicopters.
Rodney Smith, the patient advocate at the Andrews medical facility, said an active-shooter exercise was scheduled for Thursday morning, and then he was told it was a “real-world” situation. He said he was on lockdown and didn’t have any more information.
“First it was an active-shooter exercise. Then it came back ‘real world,'” Smith said by phone Thursday morning.
Smith said the situation was unfolding at the newer of two buildings at the Malcolm Grow Medical Facility. He was in the older building.