The base instructed all personnel at the base in Washington's Maryland suburbs to continue to shelter in place and stay inside.
Highlights
- First responders are on scene, all personnel asked to stay inside
- The incident was ongoing at Malcolm Grow Medical Facility in the base
- Joint Base Andrews hosts aircraft used by US President Barack Obama
Officials said Thursday emergency responders were working to secure the scene of an active shooter report at a military post near Washington, but it was not immediately clear if any shots were fired or if anyone was wounded.
Joint Base Andrews, which is about 20 miles outside the nation's capital and is home to Air Force One, said in a tweet that the base was reacting to the active shooter report to ensure the safety of all personnel.
Vice President Joe Biden was scheduled to leave from Andrews on Thursday morning, but his trip was delayed by the lockdown.
The vice president's office said he was waiting out the delay at his residence at the Naval Observatory in Washington.
Biden was due in Columbus, Ohio, for a midday campaign event for Gov. Ted Strickland.
The president, vice president and other senior government officials fly in and out of Joint Base Andrews.
President Barack Obama was last at the base Wednesday night when he returned from a trip to Ottawa, Canada
Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said there was an "unfolding situation" at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland but provided no other details.
The base tweeted Thursday morning that it was on lockdown after reports of an active shooter.
Emergency vehicles in the area of the base had on lights, but no sirens. At least three people in camouflage and helmets could be seen walking working dogs around the three-story building. About 10:15 a.m., a few people could be seen walking out of the building, including a person being moved in a wheelchair.
Helicopters hovered overhead, but it was unclear if they were news or military helicopters.
Rodney Smith, the patient advocate at the Andrews medical facility, said an active-shooter exercise was scheduled for Thursday morning, and then he was told it was a "real-world" situation. He said he was on lockdown and didn't have any more information.
"First it was an active-shooter exercise. Then it came back 'real world,'" Smith said by phone Thursday morning.
Smith said the situation was unfolding at the newer of two buildings at the Malcolm Grow Medical Facility. He was in the older building.