The Joint Base Andrews in Prince George’s County, Maryland near Washington DC was placed under lockdown after reports emerged that a man with a rifle was near base housing, officials said, as per local media reports.
Service members have been instructed to take shelter in place until further notice.
The crime reportedly started around 2:37 pm on Thursday. Service members got an emergency message from the base which warned them of an armed individual, which read, “Stay away from base housing. Initiate Lockdown Procedures!”
The urgent message was titled “Active Shooter,” by the sender on the base, but there was no indication that shots had been fired.
The suspect had been identifed as a white male wearing a purple sweatshirt and black shorts. He was reportedly carrying an AR-15-style rifle with no orange tip.
“If you see any people out moving, call 911 and that will connect you with Base Law Enforcement,” the military base stated in an update. “Security Forces foot and mobile patrols are out looking for the suspect,” it added.
Joint Base Andrews (JBA) is a military facility located in Prince George’s County, Maryland, that falls under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 316th Wing, Air Force District of Washington (AFDW). JBA was formed in 2009 through the consolidation of Andrews Air Force Base and Naval Air Facility Washington.
JBA serves as the home base for several planes that are used by top government officials, including the president and the vice president.
Last year, the base was put on lockdown after two violators, one of whom was armed, breached security. It happened shortly after Vice President Kamala Harris took off from Joint Base Andrews.
