The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis was placed on lockdown after reports that a midshipman who had been dismissed from the academy returned to campus armed, multiple officials and sources on site told reporters.
Witnesses reported hearing gunfire inside Bancroft Hall, the residence that houses midshipmen, and one official on campus said the individual was knocking on doors while pretending to be a military policeman.
Naval Support Activity Annapolis (NSAA) said it was working in coordination with local law enforcement in response to reports of threats to the Naval Academy. "Naval Support Activity Annapolis, in coordination with local law enforcement, is currently responding to reports of threats made to the Naval Academy," NSAA public affairs officer Lt. Naweed Lemar said in a statement. "The base is on lockdown out of an abundance of caution. This is a developing situation and we will provide updates as they become available."
A Defense Department official confirmed to media outlets that the department was aware of the lockdown but provided no further details. Multiple sources on campus told reporters that the person believed to be responsible had been dismissed from the academy before returning with a weapon.
Local law enforcement and base security personnel were reported to be on the scene. Authorities have not released information on casualties, injuries, arrests, or the identity of the person allegedly involved. Officials also did not specify a timeline for when the first reports were received.
Bancroft Hall is a large residence building on the academy grounds that houses midshipmen and has been the site of security responses in the past when on-campus incidents have occurred. The Naval Academy, which commissions officers into the Navy and Marine Corps, maintains its own security protocols and frequently coordinates with surrounding civilian law enforcement agencies.
Officials urged people in the area to follow directions from local authorities and the academy. Media outlets described the response as ongoing; NSAA and other officials said they would issue updates as more information becomes available. This is a developing story and additional details may be reported as authorities release them.