'Active Shooter' In Puyallup Was False Alarm Over Woman On Phone

PUYALLUP, WA - A report of an active shooter in Puyallup this morning was, thankfully, triggered by a false alarm, according to police. Puyallup police reported Monday afternoon the the "active shooter" alarm was inadvertently triggered at the Good Samaritan/Mutlicare medical facility along East Pioneer Way.

That alarm caused an evacuation of the building. When the building emptied into the parking lot, someone called 911 after seeing a woman on the phone and mistaking her for an armed person. The woman on the phone also turned out to be reporting the active shooter situation to police.

"A female in the parking lot was observed to possibly be holding a firearm. From our investigation it appears the female was actually holding her cell phone calling 911 to report an active shooter at the building. She was calling to report the incident due to the people fleeing the building who were reporting the active shooter alert going off inside the building," Puyallup police explained.

The incident began around 9:30 a.m. and triggered a massive police response. The Puyallup School District placed four schools on lockdown, plus the district's downtown administration building.

At least seven local police departments - Lakewood, Pierce County Sheriff, Sumner, and Bonney Lake included - responded plus Central Pierce fire. And even though it was a false alarm, Puyallup police praised the response because it went according to plan.

"Although it was a 'false alarm' of sorts the community should be extremely proud of the response from everyone today. Today was a great example of all things going right and getting the job done. Further, Good Sam/MultiCare staff were flawless in following their active shooter protocol at the building," the department said.

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