FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

Tech

There's Been a Shooting at the NSA

At least one person is reported dead.

#BREAKINGNEWS officer involved crash/shooting #FortMeade appears at least one fatality #breaking pic.twitter.com/tBqM5ZOZjL

— Brad Freitas (@NewsChopperBrad) March 30, 2015

A fatal shooting occurred this morning outside the headquarters of the National Security Agency (NSA) in Fort Meade, Maryland, after a vehicle attempted to ram the entrance gate, according to local news outlet MyFoxDC. One person is dead and at least two people were seriously injured and are receiving treatment following the altercation, according to the latest reports.

Advertisement

Citing anonymous sources, NBC reports that the car that sparked the altercation was a stolen Ford Escape being driven by two men dressed as women, and that a search following the incident later turned up a gun and drugs inside the vehicle. The drugs were later reported ​to include cocaine.

Photos posted by MyFoxDC and other local media outlets showed two damaged vehicles, a black SUV and a white police SUV, surrounded by debris and a white sheet that appeared to be covering a body.

#UPDATE: Shooting after vehicle tried to ram gate at @NSA_PAO #NSAShooting @AACoFD @FtMeadeMD http://t.co/Coiqm0KOeN pic.twitter.com/BKkl0dvUTT

— FOX 5 DC (@fox5newsdc) March 30, 2015

Less than a month ago, the NSA headquarters was targeted in a shooting spree that spanned five separate incidents and culminated in the arrest of a former corrections officer, who has since been charged with attempted murder, according to MyFoxDC. Right now, there's no indication that previous shooting spree, in which nobody was harmed, had any connection to the outbreak of violence outside the NSA HQ today.

Update: The FBI has ​released a statement (emphasis ours):

FBI Baltimore is investigating a shooting incident which occurred this morning at a gate at the National Security Agency at Fort Meade just off I-295 in Anne Arundel County, MD. The shooting scene is contained and we do not believe it is related to terrorism. We are investigating with NSA Police and other law enforcement agencies. Our Evidence Response Team is processing the crime scene, and FBI Agents are doing joint interviews with witnesses. We are working with the US Attorney's Office in Maryland to determine if federal charges are warranted. We have no further information at this time to release.

Advertisement

Update 2: The NSA has released more information about the shooting in an emailed statement:

Shortly before 9:00 AM today, a vehicle containing two individuals attempted an unauthorized entry at a National Security Agency gate. The driver failed to obey an NSA Police officer's routine instructions for safely exiting the secure campus. The vehicle failed to stop and barriers were deployed.

The vehicle accelerated toward an NSA Police vehicle blocking the road. NSA Police fired at the vehicle when it refused to stop. The unauthorized vehicle crashed into the NSA Police vehicle.

One of the unauthorized vehicle's occupants died on the scene. The cause of death has not been determined. The other occupant was injured and taken to a local hospital.

One NSA Police officer was injured and taken to a local hospital.

The incident was contained to the vehicle control point area on the perimeter of the secure campus.

This information is preliminary and the FBI is leading the investigation.

The National Security Agency is grateful for the swift response of the NSA Police, as well as the support of the FBI, Maryland State Police, Fort Meade Fire Department, Fort Meade Emergency Medical Services, the Anne Arundel County Fire and Police departments, and other offices.

NSA takes seriously the security of its workforce and facilities.