US Naval Academy in Maryland placed on lockdown as police respond to reports of active shooter

By Efe Ozkan

ISTANBUL (AA) - The US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland was placed on lockdown Thursday as local law enforcement responded to reports of an active shooter, according to media.

Initially, the City of Annapolis said that “Naval Support Activity Annapolis, in coordination with local law enforcement, is currently responding to reports of threats made to the Naval Academy” and that the base would be on lockdown “out of an abundance of caution” at 5.40 pm local time (2140GMT).

Later, media reports said an active shooter event was ongoing in the academy grounds.

Video footage on Fox News showed a medevac helicopter transporting at least one victim, while several others were being assessed by first responders.

"The shooter is knocking on doors pretending to be a military policeman," an official on campus told Fox News, as unconfirmed reports have surfaced alleging the shooter is a former student of the US Naval Academy.

Gunshots have been heard inside Bancroft Hall, which houses midshipmen, officers of the lowest rank.

The US Naval Academy is an undergraduate school for naval services located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Baltimore.