The commander of the Little Rock Air Force Base says an SUV jumped a curb and knocked over a street sign near the base's front gate before the driver got out with a rifle.
Col. Charles Brown Jr. said guards began firing after seeing the man was armed and quickly recognized it as a threat. The base hasn't released the man's name, but says he's in critical condition at a hospital.
Brown said at a news conference that he didn't know whether the man fired his weapon at the scene. He says the base is secure.
Brown says he didn't know if the man said anything to the two guards, or how many shots were fired by the guards stationed near the entrance of the air base northeast of Little Rock.The Little Rock Airforce Base has now lifted its lockdown after shots were fired outside its gates this morning. All personnel and visitors had been advised to stay away.
KUAR Content:
At 12:57 p.m., the Air Force Base posted this to Twitter:
The base has lifted lockdown. The main gate on Vandenberg remains closed. Harris and Arnold gates are open.
— Little Rock AFB (@LRAFB) June 15, 2015
Public affairs for the 19th Airlift Wing had released the following statement with updates on Monday morning's active shooter situation:
Base and local officials are continuing to respond to an armed suspect incident that occurred at the front gate today. The suspect attempted to gain unauthorized access to the base gate this morning at approximately 9:15 a.m.
The suspect is in custody and has been transported to UAMS for medical treatment and is in critical condition. One bystander was transported to North Metro hospital for non-related medical care and has been released.
Response teams have cleared the scene and have lifted the base lockdown. Base officials will continue to coordinate with Jacksonville Police Department, the Air Force Office of Special Investigation and the FBI.
The safety and wellbeing of base members, their families and our community members are base leaders' top priority. More information will be provided as details become available.
10:50 a.m.
A shooting occurred at the Little Rock Air Force Base this morning around 9:15 a.m. Two individuals have been transported by emergency personnel to a nearby hospital.
Tech Sergeant Russ Scalf with Command Information said details have not been released about whether the two individuals were military personnel, civilians, or assailants.
“There was an active threat that occurred at the front gate. At that point our security forces, airman, responded. After the incident, which is all we can say at this point, two individuals were transported to a local hospital.
LRAFB officials have not yet said whether shots were fired into the base before the assailant, or assailants, were detained. Scalf said the more updates will be made available as the day progresses.
“First responders, and our office of special investigations, and the Jacksonville Police Department are all on the scene,” said Scalf.
