Walter Reed, top US military and Presidential hospital, faces lockdown scare: Cops provide urgent update

A person who brought a fake gun to Walter Reed Medical Center on Thursday sparked lockdown and fears. The active shooter was with a fake gun on the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center campus in Bethesda on Thursday morning, authorities said, reported NBC Washington.

The Walter Reed hospital outside Washington, which treats military personnel and US presidents, was briefly locked down Thursday after reports of an active shooter. The sprawling Walter Reed Medical Facility treats wounded military personnel and houses a hospital dedicated to treating US presidents and conducting their annual check-ups.

The situation was brought under control after cops arrested a suspect who turned out to be carrying an imitation firearm, the police in Montgomery County, Maryland said online. Earlier, the Navy unit running the complex announced that "security is responding to reports of a potential active shooter" and said "the installation remains on lockdown."


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One person is in custody and “there is no threat to the community,” Montgomery County police said. Officers responded to the 8900 block of Rockville Pike at about 10:25 a.m. Naval Support Activity Bethesda confirmed on social meida that Building 10 was on lockdown while they responded to the reports just after 10:20 a.m. Thursday. The lockdown was lifted on Thursday morning after unfounded reports of a potential active shooter.

"INCIDENT ALERT: MCPD 2D officers dispatched at 10:24 a.m. to the 8900 block of Rockville Pike for the report of an active shooter. The subject is in custody and was armed with a fake gun. There is no threat to the community. The scene is secure," the Maontgomery County Department of Police said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.


Naval Support Bethesda officials said the installation was on lockdown and gates were closed to non-emergency vehicle traffic. It wasn’t immediately clear who had a fake gun on the campus or why.

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As of 11:17 a.m., authorities said the all-clear has been given and the lockdown has been lifted. Gates were being reopened, the base announced at 11:17 a.m. NSA Bethesda is responsible for base operational support for Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and more than 40 tenant commands and activities.

(With AFP inputs)