Active shooter reported at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, officials respond to situation
Security forces and emergency crews have rushed to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base hospital in Dayton, Ohio after reports of an active shooter in the premises. The base took to Twitter on Thursday and announced that base emergency responders, including security forces and the fire department, are responding to a "reported active shooter incident." Reports state that the incident occurred around 12:40 p.m. ET and was initially reported at the base medical center, where people were seen being escorted out of the building with their hands over their heads, according to CBS affiliate WHIO.
The station reported that although the rest of the base has been cleared, the medical center continues to remain an active scene. "Base personnel have been directed to shelter in place until the incident is investigated," the base said in a second tweet.
While a third tweet from the base said: "Our first priority is any emergency incident is to protect the men and women at Wright-Patt. Our base security forces defenders and fire department personnel are trained to quickly assess situations and take necessary action. An investigation is underway."
Dayton Daily News reported that an alert was sent to the base personnel, asking them to take cover.
The alert reportedly said: "Emergency responders are en route. All WPAFB Gates are Closed. All personnel take cover. Limit all communication to emergency use only."
The nearby Wright State University and other schools were placed on a temporary lockdown after initial alerts were issued by the base. The University, after nearly 20 minutes of the alert, tweeted saying that the situation had been "contained," according to reports.
The state Governor, John Kasich, also wrote a tweet regarding the incident, asking for prayers and said that he had "instructed the State Highway Patrol to provide all possible support to the first responders managing the situation."