MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Shooting took place at the Invoa Fairfax Hospital located in Falls Church, Virginia, CBS news agency said citing Fairfax County Police spokeswoman Ellen Pittman.
Fairfax County Police said on its Twitter that the prisoner in the custody of a private security guard had escaped from the hospital armed with a gun.
A prisoner in the custody of a private security guard has escaped from Fairfax Hospital armed with a gun. Multiple law enforcement-1/3
— FairfaxCounty Police (@fairfaxpolice) 31 Март 2015
Fairfax County Police confirmed Tuesday no one had been wounded as a result of the shooting at the Fairfax Hospital on the outskirts of Washington DC, after one shot had been fired in the incident.
“1 shot was fired. No one was injured,” Fairfax County Police said on its Twitter page.
Police are looking for this escaped prisoner. He is wearing a hospital gown and no shoes & armed with a gun. pic.twitter.com/sMtvEYkWeL
— FairfaxCounty Police (@fairfaxpolice) 31 Март 2015
Loud speakers inside the hospitals prescribe patients to stay in their rooms, news outlet reports.
The prisoner who escaped from the hospital on the outskirts of Washington, DC is Wossen Assaye, Fairfax County Police's said on its Twitter page.
The 2012 Virginia Parole Board document claims that Assaye, 40, committed a robbery and burglaries, has an extensive criminal record and a history of violence. The suspect is a serious risk to the community, the document says.
Escaped prisoner’s name is Wossen Assaye. He is 6 ft tall & 170 pounds. Heavy police presence in area searching for him. Armed & dangerous.
— FairfaxCounty Police (@fairfaxpolice) 31 Март 2015
The prisoner stole the gun from a security officer at the hospital, local police said. The police further explained that the prisoner had been guarded by an employee of a private security company, not a police officer, but did not provide any details.
"Again, this prisoner was in custody of a private security person. He escaped with that security officer's gun. Hospital is on lockdown," the Fairfax County Police reported via Twitter.
Roads have been shut down following the prisoner's escape, according to Fairfax County Police's Twitter page.
Roads around hospital being shut down. Hospital employees are to go to Falls Church HS for shuttle bus pick up.
— FairfaxCounty Police (@fairfaxpolice) 31 Март 2015
Unconfirmed reports they are going room by room at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Large police presence here. pic.twitter.com/reNeSY81UM
— Zachary T. Kiesch (@ztkiesch) 31 Март 2015
Escaped prisoner is driving a stolen silver 2002 Toyota Camry with VA tags: XZP-8153. Call police if you see it.
— FairfaxCounty Police (@fairfaxpolice) 31 Март 2015
The armed prisoner has stolen the second vehicle and remains on the loose, Fairfax County Police said on its Twitter page.
“Suspect abandoned the first stolen vehicle and has stolen a second one,” the police announced.
Gun violence has become more frequent in the United States, with public shootings taking place at least every two months, according to Harvard research published in October 2014.
On Monday, local media reported police opened fire on a vehicle trying to ram the gate at the National Security Agency (NSA) Headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland. One person was confirmed killed by gunfire while two others sustained serious injuries.
