Reports of an active shooter at Naval Medical Center San Diego Jan. 26 led to a lengthy lockdown of the military facility, but U.S. Navy officials confirmed no injuries were reported and no gunman was found. Just after 10 a.m., Brian O’Rourke, PAO Navy Region Southwest, said K9 units were sweeping the military medical center, honing in on Building 26, the site of the reported gunfire. O’Rourke said initial searches of Building 26 turned up no evidence of a gunman or shots fired. N. Scott Sutherland, Deputy Director of Public Affairs for Navy Region Southwest, sent out the following information just after 10:30 a.m., echoing the details from O’Rourke: “The investigation of Building 26 continues. First responders and Navy working dog units have conducted an initial top down inspection of the Building and have not located any casualties or evidence of a shooting having taken place. There have been no reported casualties at this time. There is a secondary, more thorough-floor-by-floor inspection taking place at this time. The medical facility remains on lockdown and a shelter in place order remains in effect.” “Patients needing immediate medical attention should go to their nearest Naval Medical facility other than Balboa Park,” Navy officials added. The center had been placed on lockdown, and people inside were ordered to shelter in place throughout the morning after someone reported hearing three shots in the basement of Building 26, which houses a gym and barracks, according to the Navy. At around 8:30 a.m., two California Highway Patrol officers were seen entering the facility through an emergency room entrance near Florida Drive. A steady stream of other patrol cars from multiple agencies, including the San Diego and Chula Vista police departments, could then be seen flowing into the area surrounding the military hospital. By 8:45 a.m., a SWAT truck was seen storming the military hospital. A staffer for the center’s childcare unit told a local television outlet that employees at the facility have undergone training in the case of an active shooter situation. The center staff comprises more than 6,500 military, civilian, contractor and volunteer personnel. The 272-bed, multispecialty hospital and ambulatory complex is located on 78.4 acres in the southeast corner of Balboa Park, about 2.5 miles from downtown San Diego. Center personnel deploy to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Djibouti and aboard the USNS Mercy. The facility is affiliated with 19 civilian nursing schools, training more than 400 students per year in clinical rotations. — NBC 7
