False Active Shooter Report Injures Midshipman at US Naval Academy

A false report of an active shooter at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, triggered a campus lockdown and led to a midshipman being injured during a security sweep. The lockdown began after an anonymous post on a chat platform, later traced to a former midshipman located elsewhere, caused panic but was confirmed to be a hoax. During the clearing of Bancroft Hall, the midshipman mistook a law enforcement officer for an armed intruder and struck the officer with a training weapon, prompting the officer to open fire and wound the student, who was airlifted to a hospital in stable condition. Officials emphasized there was no credible threat on campus, and the lockdown was lifted after authorities secured the area. The incident highlighted the dangers of misinformation and the heightened sensitivity to security threats following recent nationwide school violence. Local representatives have called for a review of safety protocols in response to the event.