The U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland, is in lockdown after receiving threats towards the base and “out of an abundance of caution,” according to a statement posted to the City of Annapolis X account.
Newsweek reached out to the USNA and Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s office by email on Thursday evening for further information. The City of Annapolis referred all comment requests to the Navy.
Newsweek also reached out by phone to the USNA, but received no answer on Thursday evening.
Why It Matters
The warning follows several weeks of active shooter reports at college campuses across the country. Authorities in each of those cases have largely determined that no active threat is present.
However, the assassination of conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, has authorities and officials across the country on high alert.
The USNA is located on the Severn River, with around 4,400 students—referred to as midshipmen—enrolled.
What To Know
“Naval Support Activity Annapolis, in coordination with local law enforcement, is currently responding to reports of threats made to the Naval Academy,” the statement says. “The base is on lockdown out of an abundance of caution.”
“This is a developing situation and we will provide updates as they become available,” the statement continued. “Please avoid the area until further notice.”
Fox News correspondent Lucas Tomlinson, citing sources inside the Naval Academy, reported that the lockdown is due to a midshipman who was kicked out of the school and returned to campus with a weapon.
However, Tomlinson later posted an excerpt from an internal USNA email that said the lockdown resulted from a misunderstanding after a midshipman had mistook “authorized law enforcement” as a threat and engaged, injuring the midshipman in the process. The midshipman is stable and receiving medical attention as a result.
When reached for comment, Public Affairs Officer Lieutenant Naweed Lemar of Naval Support Activity told Newsweek: “Naval Support Activity Annapolis, in coordination with local law enforcement, is currently responding to reports of threats made to the Naval Academy. The base is on lockdown out of an abundance of caution. This is a developing situation and we will provide updates as they become available.”
In a follow-up email received at around 9 p.m. ET, the PAO said: “At 5:07 PM EST, Naval Support Activity Annapolis security, in coordination with local law enforcement, responded to reports of suspicious activity on the Naval Academy grounds. There is no active shooter threat, however one person was injured while Naval Security Forces were clearing a building. One person has been medevaced with injuries. They are in stable condition. We will provide updates as they become available.”
Local law enforcement officers responded to the campus, and the campus brigade commander ordered students to “follow their directions,” according to the New York Times.
Update 9/11/25, 9:02 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 9/11/25, 8:54 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 9/11/25, 7:40 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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