Naval Academy Lockdown After Shooting Incident Linked to Former Student as Campus Threats Spread Across the U.S.
Video footage and social media reports related to the incident can be found at the end of this article.
The United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, was placed under a strict lockdown on Thursday evening after reports that a former student armed with a firearm had entered campus grounds and opened fire. At least one person has been hospitalized, and several others are being evaluated for possible injuries following the frightening outbreak of violence inside Bancroft Hall, the academy’s massive midshipmen dormitory.
Local and national outlets, including The Baltimore Sun and Fox News, reported that one victim was airlifted by helicopter to a nearby hospital. Fox added that “multiple victims” were being assessed at the scene, though officials have not released exact numbers.
How the Incident Began
According to The New York Times, students and staff received an urgent emergency alert at 5:32 p.m., warning:
“Get inside and lock your door right now. Not a drill. Get inside and lock your door.”
Multiple witnesses said they heard gunshots inside Bancroft Hall, which houses more than 4,000 midshipmen in 1,600 rooms. The facility is considered the largest college dormitory in the world. Eyewitnesses also alleged that the assailant, believed to be a former student of the academy, had been posing as a military officer while moving door-to-door on campus.
Naval Academy officials quickly confirmed the lockdown, stating:
“Naval Support Activity Annapolis, in coordination with local law enforcement, is currently responding to reports of threats made to the Naval Academy. The base is on lockdown out of an abundance of caution. This is a developing situation, and we will provide updates as they become available.”
Local police and military security forces swept the area, searching room by room to locate the suspect.
Scene Inside Bancroft Hall
Witnesses described chaotic scenes in Bancroft Hall following the initial reports. Students barricaded themselves in their rooms, while others fled when alarms sounded. A group of parents and visitors who had been entering the facility to attend a soccer practice were immediately turned away.
The Naval Academy has not yet confirmed how many people were injured or whether the suspect has been apprehended. However, reports indicate the shooter may still be at large, prompting law enforcement to continue searches late into the evening.
Sky5 news footage captured the evacuation of staff and students, many leaving the building with their hands raised as heavily armed officers secured the area.
Part of a Wider Wave of Campus Threats
The Naval Academy lockdown is only the latest in a disturbing string of campus security threats unfolding across the country.
Earlier Thursday, gunshots were reported near the University of Massachusetts Boston campus, triggering widespread panic and a massive police response.
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At 3:45 p.m., reports of gunfire near Morrissey Boulevard prompted evacuations of nearby buildings.
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UMass officials initially posted that the incident was connected to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, though later alerts specified the East Building residence hall as the concern.
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Students and staff were urged to shelter in place as SWAT teams rushed to the scene.
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The all-clear was declared at 5:15 p.m., over 90 minutes later, after no ongoing threat was found.
Terrified students were seen fleeing the scene. Police later said they were investigating gunfire reported near the area, though no further injuries were confirmed.
Lockdowns at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
Adding to the unease, multiple Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were hit with threats on Thursday.
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Alabama State University shut down all operations in response to what was described as a “terrorist threat.”
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Hampton University in Virginia canceled classes and activities.
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Virginia State University, Southern University and A&M College in Louisiana, and Bethune-Cookman University in Florida all went into lockdown.
Officials have not yet released details of the threats, but spokespersons emphasized that the safety of students and staff remains the highest priority. “We are working in close coordination with law enforcement agencies to assess the situation,” Alabama State University said in a statement.
Additional Campus Alert in New Jersey
Meanwhile, Stockton University’s Galloway campus in New Jersey issued a shelter-in-place order Thursday afternoon after police investigated an off-campus shooting nearby. While not directly linked to the campus, the alert underscored the heightened sensitivity to violence and threats across U.S. universities in recent days.
Connection to the Charlie Kirk Assassination
Thursday’s string of threats and lockdowns comes just one day after the assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot at Utah Valley University during a student debate event.
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Kirk, 31, a father of two and the co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot in the neck while answering a question about gun violence.
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Thousands of students were present at the time, many of whom fled in panic.
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Video footage from the scene showed Kirk collapsing in his chair before being rushed to a hospital, where he later died.
The FBI has since released the image of a “person of interest” in the Utah shooting and is urging the public for help in identifying him. The man was seen wearing a black long-sleeve shirt with an American flag design and aviator-style sunglasses.
Authorities have described the Utah incident as a “political assassination,” and it has heightened fears about targeted violence on campuses nationwide.
A Nation on Edge
The Naval Academy shooting and subsequent lockdown highlight how campus communities are facing a growing wave of fear following Kirk’s assassination and other violent threats. The frequency and intensity of these incidents have left many questioning the safety of schools, universities, and military academies.
For students, the message has been consistent: shelter in place, avoid public areas, and remain vigilant.
Law enforcement officials, meanwhile, continue to investigate whether the Annapolis incident and other reported threats across the country share any connections or motives.
Conclusion
As of Thursday evening, the Naval Academy remained under lockdown with police actively searching Bancroft Hall and surrounding areas. Multiple victims were being assessed, with at least one person transported to the hospital by helicopter.
The string of threats across campuses—from Maryland to Massachusetts, to multiple HBCUs in the South—illustrates the sense of national unease. Just a day after the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk in Utah, schools and universities are grappling with unprecedented security challenges.
Authorities stress that investigations are ongoing, and the public will be updated as new information becomes available.
The latest video coverage from the Naval Academy lockdown can be viewed at the end of this article.
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