Lockdown Lifted at US Military Base in Washington After Detention of 'Armed Individual' on Site

The strategic military installation is situated in the capital's southeast, and is about a 13 minute drive from the Capitol complex, and 17 minutes from the White House.

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling issued the all clear shortly after 3 pm local time Friday afternoon, saying authorities had dealt with the threat of an armed individual on the base.

"Authorities have responded to the scene, and the threat of an armed individual on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling has been cleared," the authorities said. "The individual was detained and will be transferred to Metropolitan Police Department custody. First responders are still assessing the situation."

The suspect is said to have been detained for transfer to the custody of the Metropolitan Police Department.

Earlier in the day, the base issued a shelter in place order amid fears that at least one "potentially armed individual" was on site.

The lockdown alert urged personnel to "RUN" if they encounter the individual(s) and have a safe route of escape.

"If you do not have a safe route to run, HIDE. Barricade your door, turn off the lights and your cell phone ringer, and remain silent. If you are hiding, prepare to FIGHT," the alert warned.

The base urged personnel to call 911 or base security if they saw a black male suspect with a medium build carrying a Gucci bag. The base later updated the suspect's description, asking people to be on the lookout for one individual - a black male with medium build "with dreads that are mid-back in length" and wearing "blue or green pants and a white tank top (possibly with a bag)." The base urged personnel not to "go looking for the individual."

Local media have reported a heavy police presence in the area, with security teams said to be combing the facility and possibly deploying a police helicopter to help with the search. WTOP-FM reporter Megan Cloherty says multiple sources have confirmed hearing gunfire around the base. Senior Airman Kevin Tanenbaum confirmed to the reporter that an armed suspect had made his way onto the base.

@RealTimeNews10 JOINT BASE BOLLING HAS A SHELTER IN PLACE

WORKING TO FIGURE OUT WAS IT A EXERCISE OR THE REAL THING pic.twitter.com/XzyiEyQTHD

— Killmoenews (@Killmoenews1) August 13, 2021

Multiple sources confirm sounds of gunfire near 3800 Holly Terrace around Bolling Air Force Base. Unconfirmed reports of a suspect on the base.

— Megan Cloherty (@ClohertyWTOP) August 13, 2021

Got this close to the exit of Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling b4 we start our PCS...and a Base Wide Lockdown was just issued due to an active threat. #pcsBogota pic.twitter.com/Ng1yZwmr8Z

— ORIANNA PALMER (@WICKED_NANNY) August 13, 2021

DC Police helicopter circling near Naval Research Lab, possibly looking for suspect in shooting at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. Base is on lockdown. pic.twitter.com/1SYMVda1yE

— Jason Paladino (@jason_paladino) August 13, 2021

SOUND UP: You can hear the announcement that the base is on lockdown from just outside the wall. This is Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. pic.twitter.com/RfoubBO2kE

— Tom Roussey (@tomroussey7news) August 13, 2021

From DC Police: They investigated a report of shots fired around 12:04pm in the 3800 blk of Halley Terrace SE across 295 from the base. They arrived on scene there was no victim found, but they say the suspect fled onto Joint Base Anocostia-Bolling. pic.twitter.com/7yPvJmI03Y

— Tom Roussey (@tomroussey7news) August 13, 2021

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling is a spawling and highly sensitive 905-acre military installation situated in Washington, DC's Southeast quadrant.

The facility includes multiple administrative departments, including the headquarters of the White House Communications Agency, the US Army's Joint Air Defence Operations Center, the headquarters of the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service's field office, the Air Force's departmental publishing office and the office of the Inspector General, the Headquarters of the Marine Corps, and the offices of the secretary of the Air Force and Navy.

Forces on the base include components of the 11th Wing of the Air Force (JBAB is its headquarters), a contingent of Marine Corps helicopters, including Marine Helicopter Squadron One, which is responsible for transporting the president, and the US Navy's Ceremonial Guard, as well as a Coast Guard station.