Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON – There was a scare at the Navy Yard this morning after an employee called police around 7:30 and said she heard something that sounded like gunshots. It turned out to be a false alarm.
Local and federal authorities took immediate action after the woman’s report. There was a fear this incident could be a repeat of the 2013 Navy Yard shooting where a lone gunman opened fire killing 12 people and injuring three others.
Francesca Medina works in the building next to the one that was evacuated. Her building was on lockdown, but nobody knew what was happening.
“I saw a lot of people who were there in 2013, so they were crying really hard. They were like ‘Oh no. Not again. Not again.’ It was pretty pretty bad,” Medina said.
Fortunately Thursday’s incident was a false alarm.
“At this time there is no evidence of gunshots. There is no evidence of a shooter. And there’s no evidence of any victims today,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser at a press conference after the all clear was given.
Police Chief Cathy Lanier said there is no indication this was a hoax. After interviewing the woman who made the call, police are satisfied she did think she heard gunshots.
“We don’t take anything for granted. Every inch of that building has been searched and is being searched a second time,” said Lanier.
When Dean Bolstad arrived at his office down the street from the Navy Yard he saw police cars everywhere. His building was quickly locked down. He thought his building and police responded quickly and appropriately.
“I don’t think anything is an overreaction with the kind of incidents that happened in 2013,” Bolstad said.
Officials say active shooter drills that have been practiced regularly since the 2013 shooting made Thursday’s response smoother than the one that year.
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