UPDATE: Report Of Active Shooter At Walter Reed A False Alarm

BETHESDA, MD — The report of an active shooter at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Tuesday was a false alarm, said Naval Support Activity Bethesda. Before the organization confirmed the false alarm, the U.S. Department of Defense said it was a drill.

At 3:59 p.m., Naval Support Activity Bethesda tweeted that the incident was a false alarm.

Security responded and cleared the building, finding no indication of an active shooter.

After investigating the call and the origin, NSA Bethesda has determined that this was a false alarm and not part of a scheduled drill as has been reported.

2/2
— NSABethesda (@nsabethesda) November 27, 2018

While preparing for an upcoming drill, a tenant command accidentally sent out a message about an active shooter situation through a mass notification system, the U.S. Navy said. The message did not contain words like "exercise" or "drill." As a result, Naval Support Activity Bethesda security, who thought it was an active shooter situation, responded accordingly, the Navy said.

The active shooter event aboard Naval Support Activity Bethesda today was the result of the improper use of a mass notification system by a tenant command aboard the installation. While preparing for an upcoming drill, the notification system was inadvertently enacted… (1/3)
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) November 27, 2018

…without containing the words "EXERCISE" or "DRILL." Individuals who saw the mass notification statement immediately notified NSA Bethesda security, where they responded accordingly and instituted an installation-wide active shooter response. … (2/3)
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) November 27, 2018

… On further investigation, they determined that the improper use of the system was the root cause and secured from the active-shooter response. (3/3)
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) November 27, 2018

Earlier Tuesday afternoon, there was a report of an active shooter at the hospital in Bethesda. Montgomery County police said they were called to assist at Walter Reed at 2:23 p.m.

At the time, Naval Support Activity Bethesda said that first responders were investigating the incident in Building 19. However, the organization said officers found "no indication so far of an active shooter."

At 3:23 p.m., Naval Support Activity Bethesda was given the all clear. There was no evidence of an active shooter, the organization said.

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

Tuesday's incident sparked confusion and prompted officials to divert traffic.

Rep. Dutch Ruppersburger (D-MD), who was at Walter Reed, tweeted about the report of an active shooter at 2:31 p.m. He confirmed he was safe and in a room with a group of people.

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

About an hour later, when officials gave the all clear, Rep. Ruppersberger said "at no point was there any indication that this was a 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

Due to police activity, the complex's gates were temporarily closed to traffic. According to Naval Support Activity Bethesda, all gates, except gate 4, are now open.

Walter Reed is the largest joint military medical center in the country. It is located at 8901 Rockville Pike and provides services in more than 100 clinics and specialities, according to the hospital's website.

This story will be updated.

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