Active shooter drill sparks panic at Water Reed

An active shooter drill gone awry sparked panic and prompted a lockdown at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, Tuesday afternoon, multiple sources told ABC News.

Military police tweeted an alert about 2:15 p.m. of a possible active shooter and were searching through buildings, and calling in the Montgomery County Police to help.

A large contingent of police swarmed the hospital, as the facility's gates were closed and people were asked to shelter in place.

PHOTO: Montgomery police block the entrance of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Nov. 27, 2018, in Bethesda Md. — Montgomery police block the entrance of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Nov. 27, 2018, in Bethesda Md.

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.
— NSABethesda (@nsabethesda) November 27, 2018

1520, UPDATE: The all clear has been given. No active shooter was found. Personnel may now move freely about the base.
— NSABethesda (@nsabethesda) November 27, 2018

But just after 3 p.m., the Department of Defense confirmed that it was only a drill. A source told ABC News that the exercise was mistaken for an actual threat and personnel initiated emergency procedures.

PHOTO: People leave Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, DC, during an emergency drill, Nov. 27, 2018. — People leave Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, DC, during an emergency drill, Nov. 27, 2018.

Lt. Col. Audricia Harris, a spokesman for the Department of Defense, confirmed, "It was a drill."

I am currently at Walter Reed Medical in Bethesda where we've been told there is an active shooter. I am currently safe in a conference room w/ approx 40 others.
— Dutch Ruppersberger (@Call_Me_Dutch) November 27, 2018

The U.S. Navy tweeted that it was an "ad hoc drill."

We've been given the all clear at Walter Reed - at no point was there any indication that this was a drill.
— Dutch Ruppersberger (@Call_Me_Dutch) November 27, 2018

(MORE: Training exercise triggers active shooter panic, lockdown at Ohio Air Force base)

It was at least the second time this year that a drill prompted real-life panic at a U.S. military base.

On Aug. 2, a training exercise at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, caused an emergency active shooter response, prompted a lockdown, the evacuation of a hospital and led one security force member to open fire on a locked door to get it open.

PHOTO: Walter Reed Army Medical Center is seen Feb. 9, 2007, in Washington. — Walter Reed Army Medical Center is seen Feb. 9, 2007, in Washington.

(MORE: No active shooter found at Alabama Army base, authorities say)

Officials at Wright-Patterson AFB issued an all-clear notice roughly two hours after security forces were put on high alert, writing on Twitter, "There was no real world active shooter incident on Wright-Patterson AFB and base personnel remain safe."

Kaynak:Abcnews

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