Military base in Washington, DC on lockdown after reports of ‘potential armed individual’ on site

The lockdown at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling was announced on Friday via the base’s Facebook page.

A post described the “potential armed individual” on base as a “black male with a medium build carrying a Gucci bag.” Anyone encountering the individual was advised to run, or hide if they lacked a suitable escape route. Anyone hiding was asked to “prepare to FIGHT.”

Local reporter Megan Cloherty claimed that multiple sources heard “sounds of gunfire” near the base. The gunfire was unlikely a false alarm, as the last time the base ran an active shooter drill, this February, staff tipped off locals well in advance about the noise.

Located along the banks of the Potomac river in southeast Washington DC, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling houses the headquarters of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the White House Communications Agency, the latter of which is tasked with securing the president’s communications channels.

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