Reports from Annapolis, Maryland, indicate that the U.S. Naval Academy was placed under a security lockdown today. Military personnel and local law enforcement are investigating reports of threats to the installation, according to an official statement on the academy’s Facebook page.
While official sources have not confirmed the nature of the threat, Fox News, citing multiple sources within the academy, reports that a former midshipman, previously expelled, may have returned to campus armed. The same report suggests gunshots were heard inside Bancroft Hall, the residence for midshipmen.
Naval Support Activity Annapolis stated that the base lockdown was implemented “out of an abundance of caution.” Aerial footage has shown police officers, armed and in body armor, moving outside campus buildings.
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At least five historically Black colleges also took precautionary measures today, including campus lockdowns and class cancellations, in response to what were described as “credible threats” of violence. The FBI has since characterized these threats as a “hoax.”
The FBI statement reads, “The FBI is aware of hoax threat calls to several Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The FBI takes these threats very seriously because they put innocent people at risk. The Bureau emphasized that while they have no information indicating a credible threat, they will continue to work with law enforcement partners at all levels to address such incidents.”
The situation at the Naval Academy is still developing. As more information becomes available, it will be crucial to verify facts and distinguish between confirmed reports and speculation.
