WASHINGTON (TheDC) – A Pentagon spokesman, Major Chris Perrine, tells TheDC that at 4:51 a.m. EDT Tuesday morning, a report of shots fired in the southern parking lot initiated restriction at the Pentagon, leading to the closure of all entrances. Pentagon police then conducted precautionary sweeps. “They didn’t find anything and they have lifted all restrictions,” says Major Perrine.
In a statement to the Associated Press, Major Perrine said a civilian reported he may have heard shots at about 5 a.m. EDT on the south side of the massive Defense Department headquarters.
NBC News reports the following:
Police officers at the Pentagon reported hearing five suspected gunshots at a nearby parking lot early Tuesday, NBC News reported.
However, two sweeps — by Pentagon police and then involving Arlington Police and officers with dogs — failed to find the source of the suspected shots.
The Associated Press reports that roads and pedestrian entrances leading to the Pentagon were reopened a little after 5:30 a.m. EDT.
NBC News and multiple sources via Twitter are reporting bus bays and parking lots have been reopened for morning commuters. Twitter user Howard Bernstein reports a heavy police presence on site.