Armed suspect near MacDill Air Force Base arrested after lockdown
MacDill Air Force Base in Florida was locked down Friday morning after reports of an armed and dangerous suspect near a base entrance.
The unidentified suspect was located near the Tanker Way entrance gate about 7 a.m., according to base officials. The base was locked down until police and other first responders arrived.
No shots were fired inside the base, and no base officials or employees were injured.
MacDill AFB.....right now.....not a drill pic.twitter.com/sEOX8Z3eb7
— Jeremy Kotkin (@kotkinjs1) January 10, 2020
Despite earlier social media reports of an active shooter inside the base, the suspect was never on base property.
St. Petersburg police notified the base after a domestic-related incident was reported at a local apartment complex, according to Bay News 9. A police spokesperson told the station they had reason to believe the suspect may have been heading near the base but did not say why.
BREAKING UPDATE: There is NO active shooter, according to MacDill AFB officials. There is a report of shots fired near the base and they are assisting Tampa police with the investigation. LATEST: https://t.co/emnsPOeFqO
— FOX 13 Tampa Bay (@FOX13News) January 10, 2020
The suspect, identified as a 54-year-old male, was captured by local police after the incident.
UPDATE// All gates have reopened at MacDill AFB. We’ve learned the lockdown stemmed from a domestic incident in St.Pete and police believed the suspect was headed towards MacDill AFB. The suspect was apprehended in Hernando County minutes ago @BN9 https://t.co/nFe7wfz06V
— Angie Angers (@angie_angers) January 10, 2020
The Hillsborough County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office confirmed there was no active shooter on the base.
Despite some reports, there is no active shooter on MacDill. If you have any questions, please call @TampaPD or @MacDill_AFB. #teamhcso #SheriffChadChronister
— HCSO #teamhcso (@HCSOSheriff) January 10, 2020
The lockdown was lifted shortly before 8 a.m, with cars being allowed back onto the base.
#BREAKING Lockdown at MacDill AFB lifted after report of active shooter.https://t.co/49TMcFwyoR
— WPEC CBS12 News (@CBS12) January 10, 2020
https://t.co/B72cJ0mTV5
UPDATE: The lockdown has been lifted, but the base is still investigating the possibility of an active shooter at @MacDill_AFB. #10NewsBrightsidehttps://t.co/66u10YzoUV
— 10News WTSP (@10NewsWTSP) January 10, 2020
The base is located in Tampa.
MacDill is home to the U.S. Central Command and the U.S. Special Operations Command. Both commands are independent from each other, and each is commanded by a respective four-star general or admiral.
MacDill is also home to the 6th Air Refueling Wing. More than 15,000 military personnel are employed on the base, which is also home to a large number of military members and their families.
