Washington Navy Yard, the site of a 2013 shooting that left 12 dead, was on lockdown for hours on Thursday morning after reports of an active shooter in the area.
However, an investigation revealed no evidence of shooting and no weapons have been found at the Navy Yard.
The DC Police Department released a statement around 10:15 a.m. that said police had responded to a call from inside a building in the Navy Yard reporting possible gunshots. After searching the building, police found no evidence of a shooting or injured personnel.
#1 of 3: A call was placed from a building inside of the Washington Navy yard for possible sounds of gun shots around 0729 AM - a subsequent— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) July 2, 2015
#2 of 3: request was made to partner law enforcement agencies for assistance. At this time we have completed our search of the building and— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) July 2, 2015
#3 of 3: have found no evidence of a shooting or injured personnel. The scene has been turned back over to the NavSea Command.— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) July 2, 2015
For hours, a massive police response blocked roadways in the southeast of the city as an investigation into the reports of a shooting was underway.
The Associated Press initially cited an unnamed official who said shots had been reported in a building, but that information was never confirmed by authorities.
#BREAKING: @NavalDistWashington Navy Yard on lockdown/shelter in place. No incident can be confirmed as of yet. More to follow.— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) July 2, 2015
Capitol Police bearing long rifles this morning, as police activity continues at #NavyYard pic.twitter.com/Cw7Q1xZxo3— Hannah Hess (@ha_nah_nah) July 2, 2015
#NavyYard A photo posted by Gerritt Lang (@ge.lang) on Jul 2, 2015 at 5:46am PDT
Scene at Navy Yard. No confirmed shooting as of now. Massive police response pic.twitter.com/RAJ02RtMz9— Peter Hermann (@phscoop) July 2, 2015
Some inside buildings in the complex said they were evacuated, but also had limited information on what had sparked the police response. Others remained sheltering in place as the investigation continued.
I have been evacuated from 197 bldg at WNY - I am ok but don't know anything about this event— Mark Vandroff (@goatmaster89) July 2, 2015
The Washington Navy Yard's Building 197 was the scene of a deadly shooting September 2013 when Navy veteran Aaron Alexis killed 12 people. It was the second-deadliest shooting on an American military base, after the 2009 Fort Hood shootings in Texas.
Police shot and killed Alexis. The Navy Yard is the country's oldest naval installation.