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The U.S. Naval Academy is on lockdown after a threat led to one person being injured while Naval Security Forces attended to investigate “suspicious activity” onsite, according to officials.
“At 5:07 PM EST, Naval Support Activity Annapolis security, in coordination with local law enforcement, responded to reports of suspicious activity on the Naval Academy grounds,” a Naval Official confirmed first to Fox News Digital. “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.” the official said.
Gunshots were heard earlier inside Bancroft Hall, which houses the midshipmen. One victim was transported via medical helicopter, and multiple other victims were being assessed.
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However, according to an internal email obtained by Fox News from Capt. David Forman, Deputy Commandant of Midshipmen, a midshipman who mistook authorized law enforcement as a threat, engaged and was injured in the process. The email said the midshipman is stable and receiving medical attention.
At the time, one official on campus had said, “The shooter is knocking on doors pretending to be a military policeman.” Officials now stress this appears to have been misinformation.
“Secretary Phelan is aware of the situation and has been receiving up-to-the-minute updates from NCIS and USNA leadership. USNA is on lockdown out of abundance of caution,” a Navy official told Fox News Digital. “This is an ongoing situation, and we will provide updates as they become available.”
“Naval Support Activity Annapolis, in coordination with local law enforcement, is currently responding to reports of threats made to the Naval Academy,” NSAA PAO, Lt. Naweed Lemar, told Fox News. “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 also confirmed the agency is aware of the lockdown at the campus, adding officials “are monitoring the situation with the Navy. Secretary Hegseth has been briefed.”
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Separately, a message circulating among midshipmen and attributed to the Commandant which Fox News has not independently verified states the initial threat began on the anonymous chat platform Yodel and was traced to a separated midshipman who was later confirmed to be at his parents’ home in the Midwest.
That message also said the midshipman injured today mistook security forces for an intruder and that the incident was part of a wave of false active-shooter reports across the country. The Commandant’s message warned that ‘misinformation was the biggest threat today.’
A former student also told Fox News Digital how “horrible” it must feel for the midshipman locked inside since the building always felt like “home” and houses around 4000 or more individuals.
“It’s definitely obviously horrible because the school is very close. The common phrase that you’ll hear midshipmen describe Bancroft Hall is that you live and work there,” the former student said.
“So, it’s, it’s both your home and your workplace,” the former student added before describing how secure the hall is. “There’s really two main security checkpoints manned 24/7, by armed guards.
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“The only form of security is CAC readers, so, theoretically, you can’t get in unless you have a CAC or someone just like leaves the door open.”
Officials said a final sweep of the yard is underway and the lockdown will lift shortly.
This is a developing story.
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