UPDATE 2:10 p.m.: Naval Medical Center resumes operations
Hospital operations at the Naval Medical Center San Diego have resumed, according to the facility. Officials are continuing their investigation.
A Facebook post by the medical center reads:
The Balboa staff is to be commended for their actions and response — and to our patients, thank you for your cooperation and understading in what was a challenging day for us all.
UPDATE 1:10 p.m.: Lockdown continues; cartridges found
Officers found four unspent cartridges in various parts of one building at the Naval Medical Center San Diego, but it was unclear if the ammunition had anything to do with the ongoing emergency, Navy spokesman Brian O'Rourke said.
As of midday, authorities had not identified or arrested any suspects.
Patients with pressing medical appointments were advised to seek care at other facilities.
It remained unknown in the early afternoon how long it would take to fully clear the facility, O'Rourke said.
Original post
A report of an armed man at Naval Medical Center San Diego
Thursday morning prompted hospital officials to order staffers to seek shelter and ask those en route to the hospital to avoid the area until the scene is cleared.
No shots were fired, but someone called the hospital Thursday morning and said an armed man was seen in the 4-West area, according to hospital officials. Base security personnel was sent to investigate.
Speaking to KUSI News, Navy spokesman Brian O'Rourke said the anonymous caller told quarter-deck employees the armed man was spotted on the fourth floor of the hospital's main building.
Hospital staffers were told to shelter in place as a precaution.
Hospital officials also asked employees and patients headed to the hospital to avoid the area.
No area schools were placed on lockdown, according to the San Diego Unified School District.
It's the second such report in as many months.
On Jan. 26, an apparently unfounded report of shots fired at the complex commonly known as Balboa Hospital prompted lockdowns of the facility and nearby schools as law enforcement officers searched.
In the earlier case, SWAT teams cleared buildings at the Balboa Park- area hospital and found no evidence of a shooting or any other security hazard, according to Navy officials.
