UPDATE - US Naval Academy in Maryland placed on lockdown as police respond to reports of active shooter

ADDS STATEMENT FROM NAVY SECRETARY, REVISES DECK

By Efe Ozkan

ISTANBUL (AA) - The US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland was placed on lockdown Thursday as local law enforcement responded to reports of an active shooter, according to media.

Initially, the City of Annapolis said that “Naval Support Activity Annapolis, in coordination with local law enforcement, is currently responding to reports of threats made to the Naval Academy” and that the base would be on lockdown “out of an abundance of caution” at 5.40 pm local time (2140GMT).

Later, media reports said an active shooter event was ongoing in the academy grounds as gunshots were heard inside Bancroft Hall, which houses midshipmen, officers of the lowest rank.

Hours after initial reports, however, US Secretary of the Navy John Phelan wrote on the US social media company X’s platform that there was no active shooter threat.

“There is no active shooter threat. However, one person was injured while Naval Security Forces were clearing a building. One person has been medevaced with injuries. They are in stable condition. The base remains on lockdown. We will provide updates as they become available,” he said.

Video footage on Fox News showed a medevac helicopter transporting at least one person, while others were being assessed by first responders.

The US Naval Academy is an undergraduate school for naval services located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Baltimore.