UPDATE: Naval Medical Center cleared after reports of shots fired
SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – 2:24 p.m. – Personnel and visitors at Naval Medical Center San Diego are now being allowed to move freely around the facility, with the exception of Building 26, where someone reported hearing possible gunfire this morning, according to officials at the military hospital.
Patient care also has returned to normal, authorities say.
Mayor Kevin Faulconer hailed the "tremendous collaboration” displayed during the emergency.
"This is what we train for — as a region, as a city,” he said. "The fact (is) that we had, at last count, seven law enforcement agencies from the federal, the state, the local level that all pitched in, (that) didn’t wait.”
San Diego police Chief Shelley Zimmerman echoed the mayor’s praise of the response to the scare.
"We’re all grateful that it didn’t turn out to be an active shooter, but if it had been, what you saw is we’re very prepared as a region,” Zimmerman said.
10:35 a.m. – According to Captain Curt Jones, sweeps of several buildings at Naval Medical Center San Diego found no signs of shooters or shots fired.
"We’ve done an initial sweep and found nothing," Captain Jones said at a press conference after several hours of investigation.
10:22 a.m. – According to a California Highway Patrol officer, doctors and nurses were being allowed back into facilities. A large police presence of several forces continued to sweep buildings and investigate the situation, however.
9:30 a.m. – Lockdowns at San Diego High School, Garfield High School and Roosevelt Middle School were lifted, however some staff and students remained sheltered in place as police investigate the ongoing situation at Naval Medical San Diego.
9:02 a.m. – San Diego High School, Garfield High School and Roosevelt Middle School were put on lockdown due to the active shooter situation at nearby Naval Medical San Diego.
Shortly after 9 a.m., Navy officials announced that the entire complex had been secured, including its childcare facilities, and no one was being allowed access. All children were said to be accounted for and safe.
While the building remained locked down, officials were sweeping the building with the assistance of K9s.
8:07 a.m. – A lockdown was issued at Naval Medical San Diego Tuesday morning after reports of an active shooter were made, according to the hospital’s Facebook page.
The post, which was made at 8:07 a.m. on Naval Medical San Diego’s verified page, said an active shooter was reported in building #26. All occupants were advised to run, hide or fight and all non-emergency response personnel were asked to stay away from the compound.
Witnesses said they heard three shots fired just after 8 a.m. possibly coming from the basement of the building. Building 26, houses the Security Pass and Decal office and is mostly used as barracks.
Naval medical center is located at 34800 Bob Wilson Drive, San Diego, CA 92134 and serves a large amount of military personnel, retirees and family members every day.
