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Fort Belvoir Hospital Locked Down Following Reports of Possible Gunman

No danger to patients or staff; 'the system worked' with police response.

Fort Belvoir Community Hospital was placed on lockdown Tuesday morning following reports of a possible gunman.

Fort Belvoir Police responded to a call placed shortly before 9:30 a.m. after security officials monitoring security cameras saw a man in the hospital carrying an object that appeared that it could have been a weapon, said Fort Belvoir spokesman Don Carr.

The hospital was placed on lockdown and the installation's gates were closed after police were called.

The individual was quickly apprehended by police. Fort Belvoir Police determined the object was a training device and the individual was not armed. The investigation is ongoing.

"The message is: The system did work the way it should work," Carr said of the fast response by police and staff. "They responded as they should have because they believed there was possible danger, but it turned out there was no danger to Belvoir staff or patients." 

T Ailshire August 21, 2012 at 05:59 pm
I'm so sorry our Armed Forces are reduced to cowering in the face of what "could have" been a "weapon".
Ron Fitzsimmons August 21, 2012 at 06:45 pm
Why is this even news? The bottom line is nothing happened, no one was in danger, it was an honest mistake. So why is the headline so "scary"? Why do we have to use fear to get people's attention???
EB August 22, 2012 at 12:15 am
This was pushed out to calm Fort Belvoir personnel who were unable to get on post as a result of the lockdown.
Beth Lawton (Editor) August 22, 2012 at 12:36 am
Thanks, EB - and yes, that's why we published it. Lorton Patch's James Cullum was at an event for expecting military moms (story coming Wednesday!) and several people in attendance had heard something was going on and were asking about it.
Beth Lawton Senior Regional Editor, Virginia
BJS August 22, 2012 at 12:25 pm
You've never served in the military, have you, Alshire? I, for one, am glad the Fort Belvoir authorities were smart and quick enough to take proactive measures, even in a false alarm. After all of the terrible "active shooter" events from Columbine forward, everyone should be sensitized and ready for such an emergency. This is a hospital, not a battlefield, and I feel secure working here and on this installation. Good job, Fort Belvoir!
T Ailshire August 25, 2012 at 12:58 am
I guess my 22+ years is "never serving".
Rory August 25, 2012 at 01:10 pm
BJS is exactly right. Better safe than sorry and no one cowered.

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