U.S. military base in D.C. on lockdown after reports of gunfire

A U.S. military base in Washington, D.C., went on lockdown Friday in response to a potentially armed individual who had been seen on the campus.

The person, initially described as a Black male with a medium build “carrying a Gucci Bag,” had last been spotted on the south side of Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, according to the official Facebook page for the outpost.

D.C. police said that they would only verify the person was male. Officers are at the base, a spokeswoman told CNBC.

An update from the base’s social media account later described the individual as a Black man with a medium build and “dreads that are mid-back in length.” The person is wearing blue or green pants and a white tank top, and he may be carrying a bag, according to the Facebook post.

That update, which came more than an hour after the lockdown order was posted, advised people to “continue to shelter in place.”

About 15 minutes beforehand, the Facebook page had alerted people to be on the lookout for two individuals: one a Black male with medium build “with dreads” and “wearing ripped blue jeans,” and the other a Black man wearing green pants and a white top who “may be injured.”

That was revised to just one person in the most recent update.

“LOCKDOWN LOCKDOWN LOCKDOWN,” the base first announced on Facebook at 12:37 p.m. ET.

“If you encounter the individual and have a safe route, RUN. 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 post said.

A spokeswoman for the D.C. police told CNBC that the department had received a phone call at 12:04 p.m. regarding the sound of gunshots being heard at a location east of the base.

No victims have been identified yet, the spokeswoman said. Metropolitan Police Department officers are at the base and involved in the search, the spokeswoman added.

This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.