'Nothing Which Substantiates' Report of Shooter at Naval Medical Center in San Diego

An active shooter was reported at Naval Medical Center San Diego on Tuesday, roughly two miles north of the city's downtown — but following an evacuation and a building-wide sweep, authorities determined that there was no evidence to substantiate it.

On Tuesday morning, San Diego Police Department spokesman Officer Travis Easter said that police had received a report of a shooter from officials at the medical center. A witness is said to have reported hearing three gunshots from the basement area of the medical center's Building #26 at approximately 8:00am local time. No other witnesses are reported to have heard gunshots.

The medical center posted a message to its Facebook page that said, "An active shooter has just been reported in building #26 at Naval Medical Center San Diego. All occupants are advised to run, hide or fight."

Mike Alvarez, a spokesperson for the medical center, soon noted that despite the reports he "cannot confirm an active shooter."

All non-emergency response staff were asked to stay away from the compound, which was placed on lockdown as though it were an active shooter situation. The medical center includes a 272-bed hopsital and has a staff of more than 6,500 military and civilian professionals, according to its website. Groups of people were evacuated from the medical center with their hands up and their IDs displayed, following law enforcement protocol. No injuries were reported.

"As of right now we have found absolutely nothing that indicates there were any shots fired,

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes)January 26, 2016

"We take all reports like this very seriously," Captain Curt Jones, the center's commanding officer, said at a press conference. He later confirmed that authorities found "nothing which substantiates" the report of a shooting at the compound.

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