Active shooter hoax at US Naval Academy results in injuries

Julia Marshall, Craig Nigrelli
An active shooter hoax at the US Naval Academy resulted in a student mistaking an officer for a gunman, resulting in both being injured.
Image credit: JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images
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Summary

Shooter hoax

An active shooter report at the U.S. Naval Academy was determined to be a hoax. Investigators state the threat began on an anonymous chat platform and was traced to a former midshipman using the site from his parents' home in the Midwest.

Campus response

Following the reported threat, officials placed the campus in Annapolis under lockdown. Students and staff received an email that read, "Get inside and lock your door right now. Not a drill." Emergency personnel and nearby military base officials responded to the reports.

Mistaken identity

Officials report that during the confusion, a student mistook an officer for a gunman and struck the officer in the head with a rifle. The officer responded by shooting the student in the arm. Both individuals are expected to recover.

Full story

What began as a report of an active shooter at the U.S. Naval Academy turned out to be a hoax. However, the confusion on campus resulted in a student mistaking an officer for a gunman.

Officials say the student struck an officer in the head with a rifle. The officer shot at him, hitting him in the arm. Officials expect both to recover.

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Campus placed on lockdown

The incident occurred after academy officials placed the campus, located in Annapolis, Maryland, under lockdown. An anonymous chat platform sparked concerns of an active shooter on campus.

Students and staff got an email warning that said, “Get inside and lock your door right now. Not a drill.”

Investigators say they traced the threat to a former midshipman on a chat site logging in from his parents’ home in the Midwest. They determined there was no active shooter present on site.

Ambulances gathered at a staging area during the lockdown, and nearby military base officials responded to the initial reports of a shooting.

By 9 p.m., the Baltimore Sun reported the academy remained on lockdown, with people told to avoid the area.

Navy Secretary John Phelan shared an update on X on Thursday night. He said as of 9:26 p.m. CST, the base remained on lockdown.

The Naval Academy

The academy, which is located on the banks of the Severn River, is a four-year college that prepares students to be commissioned as officers in the Navy and Marine Corps.

There are approximately 4,400 students, or midshipmen as they’re called on campus, enrolled at the academy.

Previous incidents nationwide

Hours before the academy went on lockdown, there was a false report of an active shooter at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Around 5 p.m. Thursday, police confirmed there was no ongoing threat on campus.

The hoax also comes just one day after someone assassinated right-wing activist Charlie Kirk while speaking on a college campus in Utah. The manhunt for his killer is still underway.

Julia Marshall
Julia Marshall
Julia Marshall is a morning digital producer at Straight Arrow. With a strong foundation in the newsroom, Julia brings sharp news instincts to Straight Arrow, along with exceptional writing and editing expertise across a wide range of topics and platforms, evident in her ability to quickly break news and produce clear, informative stories.
Craig Nigrelli
Craig Nigrelli
Craig Nigrelli is an anchor and reporter for Straight Arrow. As the face of Unbiased Updates and Media Miss Minute, he delivers concise, impartial, fact‑based context grounded in 35 years of reporting and anchoring across major U.S. markets.
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Why this story matters

A lockdown at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis was triggered by reports of threats, resulting in injuries during the response and raising questions about security on military campuses and the spread of false alarms. This incident reflects broader challenges in responding to campus threats and their impact on student safety.

Campus security response

Swift action by Naval Support Activity Annapolis and law enforcement demonstrates the protocols in place for handling active threats and real-time injury management, highlighting the need for coordination and clear communication during emergencies.

False threat reports

According to multiple sources, the original threat that triggered the lockdown was ultimately determined to be non-credible, illustrating the disruptive and potentially dangerous effects of hoaxes on campus operations and public safety.

Student and staff safety

Official statements emphasize that ensuring the security and well-being of students and staff remains the top priority, underscoring the emotional and logistical toll such incidents take on educational and military institutions.

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Community reaction

Local officials and residents expressed concern for students' safety, with Maryland Rep. Sarah Elfreth emphasizing the community's commitment to student well-being, and local residents describing anxiety and fear during the lockdown.

Context corner

The U.S. Naval Academy, founded in 1845, has experienced security scares in recent years, including multiple bomb threats. The recent rise in threats to schools and political figures nationally may have contributed to heightened response and public anxiety.

Solution spotlight

Law enforcement and academy officials coordinated to clear buildings methodically and provided timely updates, eventually determining there was no credible threat and lifting the lockdown safely.

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Sources

  1. Secretary of the Navy via X
  2. The New York Times
  3. ABC News

Bias comparison

  • Media outlets on the left portray the Naval Academy incident as a tragic error, emphasizing that a midshipman was mistakenly shot by law enforcement amid confusion, with repeated assurances there was no credible active shooter, employing terms like “mistaken as a threat” that cast doubt on security actions and highlight institutional accountability.
  • Not enough unique coverage from media outlets in the center to provide a bias comparison.
  • Media outlets on the right frame the event as a serious security breach, spotlighting a former expelled midshipman’s armed intrusion and use of deception — “pretending to be a military policeman” — with a more urgent, law-and-order tone underscored by words like “active threat” and “security breach.”

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Media landscape

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Key points from the Left

  • A midshipman was shot by police at the U.S. Naval Academy during a lockdown after reports of threats, according to a source who was on campus at the time of the incident.
  • The midshipman mistakenly hit a law enforcement officer with a training weapon, leading to police firing at them, as reported by NBC News.
  • The midshipman was hospitalized and is expected to recover, as stated by the source present during the lockdown.
  • Governor Wes Moore's office confirmed there is "currently no credible threat to the Naval Academy."

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Key points from the Center

No summary available because of a lack of coverage.

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Key points from the Right

  • The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, was placed on lockdown due to reported threats, according to the Navy's Facebook page.
  • Multiple sources confirmed that a former midshipman returned armed to campus, with gunshots heard in Bancroft Hall.
  • Naval Support Activity Annapolis stated the lockdown is "out of an abundance of caution" and is coordinating with local law enforcement for the response.
  • Officials cannot confirm an active threat but are conducting searches in response to the reported threats.

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Other (sources without bias rating):

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Sources

  1. Secretary of the Navy via X
  2. The New York Times
  3. ABC News