What happened at US Naval Academy? Here’s all to know about lockdown scare

A lockdown at the U.S. Naval Academy on Thursday evening took a dramatic turn when a midshipman, mistaking a security officer for a threat, was shot during the response to reports of suspicious activity on campus.

The incident began around 5 p.m. after academy officials received online threats traced to a former midshipman who had been dismissed. The messages, disguised with an IP address to appear as though they originated on campus, prompted Naval Support Activity Annapolis to order an immediate lockdown.

During the shelter-in-place order, Naval Security Forces swept through buildings to ensure safety. In the confusion, one midshipman reportedly struck an officer with a training weapon, believing him to be an intruder. Law enforcement then opened fire, injuring the student. The midshipman was flown by Maryland State Police helicopter to Shock Trauma in Baltimore and is now listed in stable condition.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s office confirmed just after 6:30 p.m. that there was “no credible threat” to the academy. By nightfall, the U.S. Navy released a statement clarifying that the investigation did not involve an active shooter and that the only injury occurred during the clearing operation.

🚨BREAKING: Now the U.S. Naval Academy is on lockdown after someone who was kicked out of the school has come back armed with a weapon. He/she is knocking on doors in the academy pretending to be civil to trick people.pic.twitter.com/qx5CFz8R0p

— Doug Harvin (@RealDougHarvin) September 11, 2025

Video captured by SkyTeam 11 showed students with their hands raised rushing into buildings as armed officers secured the grounds.

Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D–District 3) later addressed the situation on X, emphasizing the need to protect students and praising first responders and medical teams for their quick action.

Thursday’s scare comes amid a wave of security alerts at universities nationwide. In the past week, several Historically Black Colleges and Universities — including Alabama State, Bethune-Cookman, Southern University, and Virginia State — temporarily shut down or issued lockdowns in response to similar threats. Schools in Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Georgia have also reported investigations into campus security scares.

The Naval Academy has since lifted its lockdown, but officials say vigilance will remain high as law enforcement continues to monitor potential threats.

🚨BREAKING: MULTIPLE VICTIMS shot at the US Naval Academy, a midshipman who was "KICKED OUT" of the school came to campus with a weapon, pretending to be a military policeman.

We don't have a total number of victims yet. pic.twitter.com/u68aGgADah

— The Patriot Oasis™ (@ThePatriotOasis) September 11, 2025