News4’s Chris Gordon reports on what D.C.’s mayor and police chief had to say about the overwhelming law enforcement response to the ultimately disproved reports of gunfire at the Washington Navy Yard on Thursday morning.
U.S. Capitol Police have given the all clear at the Washington Navy Yard after the report of a shooting Thursday morning, triggered vivid memories of a 2013 deadly mass shooting at the naval installation.
D.C. police said a woman called from inside a Navy Yard building to report that she might have heard sounds of gunshots around 7:20 a.m. However, investigators found no sign of a shooting, a shooter or anyone injured.
The massive police response to a suspected shooter at the Navy Yard brought back memories for the people who worked there during the 2013 mass shooting, a day they’ll never forget.
“We don’t believe that it was a malicious hoax or incident like that,” D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said during a press conference Thursday morning.
Lanier added that the employee was doing what she was supposed to do.
Since the 2013 Navy yard shooting, D.C. police and first-responders have greatly improved how they handle emergency situations. News4 I-Team’s Scott MacFarlane reports.
After receiving the call, authorities converged on the area and searched each building one-by-one.
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One of the buildings searched was the Humphreys Building, which was the site of a deadly mass shooting nearly two years ago. The building was formerly known as Building 197.
Authorities have located the person who placed the call that resulted in a massive police response at the Navy Yard.
The naval installation was placed on lockdown and employees were told to shelter in place.
"It was pretty much like the first time. There were lots of people running for the exits, running for shelter, a lot of confusion," said Lt. Commander Scott Williams, who was inside the building when Thursday's incident was reported.
AP
Police tell members of the media to move near the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, July 2, 2015.
AP
Soldiers guard at the Navy Barracks in Washington, Thursday, July 2, 2015.
AP
Police officers stand guard in front of the Transportation Department in Washington, July 2, 2015, adjacent to the Washington Navy Yard.
AP
Two police helicopters and a surveillance aircraft fly over the neighborhood outside the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, July 2, 2015.
AP
A large police presence gathers along M St. in Southeast Washington, July 2, 2015, after an official said shots have been reported in a building on the Washington Navy Yard campus.
AP
Unidentified members of the U.S. Navy wait outside the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, Thursday, July 2, 2015.
AP
Troops move carrying guns walk at the Navy Yard in Washington, Thursday, July 2, 2015.
AP
Two Washington Navy Yard employees walk away from the complex in Washington, Thursday, July 2, 2015.
AP
A helicopter hovers above a police officer holding up police tape for a vehicle as a large police presence gathers along M St. Southeast in Washington, July 2, 2015, near the Washington Navy Yard campus.
News4
No shots were fired at the Washington Navy Yard Thursday morning, but the naval installation remains on lockdown after police were called to the scene, officials sources tell News4.
News4
Police responded to the area at about 7:45 a.m. after receiving an emergency call. Investigators have located the person who made the call that triggered the massive police response. They're interviewing that person.
News4
Several streets near the Navy Yard remain shut down.
Tom Sherwood
Traffic and emergency vehicles backed up near the Navy Yard in D.C. Sources have confirmed there was no gunfire, but the investigation continues.
Tom Sherwood
News4 Reporter Tom Sherwood rode his bike to the Navy Yard from his home nearby to gather more information.
News4
D.C. Fire & EMS officials say there are no injuries at the Navy Yard.
News4
Several sources tell News4 that one of the buildings at the Washington Navy Yard, Building 197, has been cleared. That building was the sight of a deadly mass shooting nearly two years ago.
A number of roads were closed in the area as authorities completed their investigations. A nearby elementary school was also placed on lockdown for a short time.
On Sept. 16, 2013, 12 civilians were killed and four others injured during a mass shooting at Building 197. The gunman, Aaron Alexis, was killed by police. Alexis was a civilian contractor and former Navy reservist who suffered from mental health problems.
It was the second-deadliest rampage on an American military base, after the Fort Hood shootings in Texas in 2009.
The building reopened in February after extensive renovations.
Counselors and chaplains will be provided to any Navy Yard employees who need to speak with someone.
The Navy Yard, in southeast Washington, is the country's oldest naval installation.
The Washington Navy Yard is on lockdown and employees are sheltering in place as a massive police presence converged to respond to reports of an incident at the naval installation.
AP
Police tell members of the media to move near the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, July 2, 2015.
AP
Soldiers guard at the Navy Barracks in Washington, Thursday, July 2, 2015.
AP
Police officers stand guard in front of the Transportation Department in Washington, July 2, 2015, adjacent to the Washington Navy Yard.
AP
Two police helicopters and a surveillance aircraft fly over the neighborhood outside the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, July 2, 2015.
AP
A large police presence gathers along M St. in Southeast Washington, July 2, 2015, after an official said shots have been reported in a building on the Washington Navy Yard campus.
AP
Unidentified members of the U.S. Navy wait outside the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, Thursday, July 2, 2015.
AP
Troops move carrying guns walk at the Navy Yard in Washington, Thursday, July 2, 2015.
AP
Two Washington Navy Yard employees walk away from the complex in Washington, Thursday, July 2, 2015.
AP
A helicopter hovers above a police officer holding up police tape for a vehicle as a large police presence gathers along M St. Southeast in Washington, July 2, 2015, near the Washington Navy Yard campus.
News4
No shots were fired at the Washington Navy Yard Thursday morning, but the naval installation remains on lockdown after police were called to the scene, officials sources tell News4.
News4
Police responded to the area at about 7:45 a.m. after receiving an emergency call. Investigators have located the person who made the call that triggered the massive police response. They're interviewing that person.
News4
Several streets near the Navy Yard remain shut down.
Tom Sherwood
Traffic and emergency vehicles backed up near the Navy Yard in D.C. Sources have confirmed there was no gunfire, but the investigation continues.
Tom Sherwood
News4 Reporter Tom Sherwood rode his bike to the Navy Yard from his home nearby to gather more information.
News4
D.C. Fire & EMS officials say there are no injuries at the Navy Yard.
News4
Several sources tell News4 that one of the buildings at the Washington Navy Yard, Building 197, has been cleared. That building was the sight of a deadly mass shooting nearly two years ago.
