U.S. Naval Academy Lockdown: Incident Overview and Response

On September 11, 2025, the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, was placed under lockdown following reports of a potential active shooter on campus. The situation escalated when a midshipman, sheltering in place, mistakenly perceived a law enforcement officer as a threat and struck him with a training weapon. In response, the officer shot the midshipman, who was subsequently airlifted to a hospital and is expected to recover.

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• 5:07 PM: Naval Support Activity Annapolis security and local law enforcement began responding to reports of threats made to the academy.

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• 5:32 PM: An email alert warned midshipmen to "get inside and lock your door right now. Not a drill."

New York Times

• 6:07 PM: Midshipman First Class Kellen Bynes advised students to follow police directions and not engage with them.

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• 6:43 PM: Midshipmen were instructed to report to Halsey Field House for safety.

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The lockdown was initiated amid heightened security concerns across the United States, following a series of threats at various institutions, including historically Black colleges and universities. The Naval Academy incident coincided with a bomb threat at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C., which was later deemed not credible.

US Naval Academy midshipman shot during police response to threat reports

Lieutenant Naweed Lemar, spokesperson for Naval Support Activity Annapolis, stated that the lockdown was enacted "out of an abundance of caution" while law enforcement investigated the situation. Maryland Governor Wes Moore's office confirmed that there was "currently no credible threat to the Naval Academy."

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Some critics have raised concerns about the rapid escalation of the situation and the response protocols in place. The incident has sparked discussions about the adequacy of training for both midshipmen and law enforcement in handling perceived threats on campus.

US Naval Academy midshipman shot during police response to threat reports

Initial reports suggested that an expelled midshipman had returned to campus armed and was involved in gunfire within Bancroft Hall. However, these claims were later clarified to indicate that there was no active shooter, and the gunfire resulted from the police response to the midshipman's mistaken actions. Discrepancies remain regarding the exact nature of the threats that prompted the lockdown.

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• “The base is on lockdown out of an abundance of caution.” — Lt. Naweed Lemar, Naval Support Activity Annapolis

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• “In working with local, state, and federal law enforcement authorities, there is currently no credible threat to the Naval Academy.” — Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s office

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• “My thoughts are with all the students and staff who had to experience tonight's lockdown at the Naval Academy.” — Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman

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Investigations are ongoing to determine the precise sequence of events that led to the shooting. The Naval Academy is expected to review its emergency protocols and training procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

U.S. Naval Academy Shooting Annapolis: Latest Updates