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© US ArmyWalter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington, DC is on lockdown as police investigate a report of an active shooter. The hospital provides long-term care for wounded veterans, including those with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Shortly before 1 p.m. local time, federal law enforcement told the media they received an order to stand down, after finding "no indication of a shooter."


A single gunshot on the premises was reported around 10:40 a.m. Employees were given a "Code White" message, instructing them to shelter in place. The campus was placed on lockdown, and there is a heavy law enforcement presence in the area, blocking several major roads.

Police were combing through the 243-acre campus, looking for the reported shooter.

"The complaint was pinpointed to the high rise, the 22-story building on campus. about half an hour ago, they only had five stories left to search," Montgomery County Police Department Captain Paul Starks told reporters. "Once that search is concluded, k9s trained in the detection of explosive devices will be deployed throughout the building"

There is "no indication of any kind that there was a shooting, but we're not leaving yet," Starks added.

A loudspeaker announcement shortly before noon indicated the situation might be a test. One employee told a local media reporter that Walter Reed practices "Code White" at least once a year.

Hundreds of local, federal and military law enforcement agents were in the area, with helicopters flying over the campus. Police from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is located across the street from Walter Reed, were assisting with the search. Several entrances to NIH have been closed due to the police presence.

Walter Reed serves as the headquarters for the Joint Task Force National Capital Region/Medical, and is one of the country's most prominent military hospitals. The campus provides long-term treatment for wounded troops and hosts injured service members' families. Walter Reed also provides care for the president and vice president of the United States, members of Congress and Supreme Court justices.

Last week, an "ear witness" reported a gunshot at the Navy Yard, where a gunman killed 12 workers in 2013. After a three-hour lockdown, the police found no evidence of a shooter or a shooting.

"[We're] very happy this turns out to be a great exercise for us to see that we fixed what we wanted to fix, and nobody is hurt, and no evidence of any shots fired," said DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier at a news conference at the Navy Yard, following the lockdown last Thursday.