A heavy law enforcement response and a stressful lockdown gripped Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme on Tuesday morning after reports of an active shooter surfaced. The situation was triggered just before 10 a.m. when an emergency call reported an "active assailant" inside a medical building on the base. Military personnel were immediately ordered to shelter in place as security teams and local police established a perimeter.
Systematic Sweep Finds No Evidence of Gunfire
Ventura County Fire and base security units conducted a systematic and thorough sweep of the medical facility and the surrounding premises. During the search, authorities found no suspect, no victims, and absolutely no signs that any shots had been fired. By 10 39 a.m., military officials confirmed that the premises were clear and the lockdown was officially lifted with no reported injuries or property damage.
The base has since resumed normal operations, but the investigation into the source of the initial report is far from over. Authorities are currently working to determine if the call was a result of a misunderstanding or a deliberate "swatting" attempt intended to draw a massive police response. This incident follows a growing trend of false active shooter reports at military installations and educational facilities across the country.
Backstory of Increasing Security Challenges
Naval Base Ventura County public affairs noted that similar automated system errors or hoaxes have caused unnecessary panic at nearby locations like Ventura College in the past. These events place an enormous strain on emergency resources and cause significant distress to the personnel on base. In this instance, the medical building remained the primary focus of the sweep until every room was cleared.
While the "all clear" was a massive relief for the Port Hueneme community, officials emphasize that they must treat every report with the utmost seriousness until proven otherwise. Base leadership praised the quick actions of the Force Protection personnel and the local law enforcement partners who helped secure the facility. Investigators are now reviewing phone records to identify the origin of the emergency call that brought the base to a standstill on Tuesday.