Executive Summary
- Lynchburg General Hospital was placed on lockdown Thursday night following a report of an active shooter.
- Police determined the threat was a hoax and identified a suspect inside the facility.
- Authorities charged one man with falsely summoning law enforcement; no injuries were reported.
- This incident follows an unrelated false bomb threat at the same location in January.
LYNCHBURG, Va. — Operations at Lynchburg General Hospital were disrupted Thursday night after a call reporting an active shooter triggered an immediate lockdown and significant law enforcement response, resulting in the arrest of a suspect who allegedly initiated the hoax from within the facility.
According to the Lynchburg Police Department (LPD), dispatchers received the distress call just before 11:00 p.m. on February 5. Officers rapidly deployed to the medical center, initiating tactical protocols to secure the building and ensure the safety of patients and staff. Video footage captured during the incident depicts law enforcement personnel evacuating individuals from the premises while conducting a sweep of the building.
David Pomerleau, a witness present inside the hospital during the lockdown, described the scene as chaotic. "Thirty or forty police officers with automatic weapons, canines were outside, and they are just coming in yelling ‘move out the way, move out the way,’" Pomerleau stated in an interview with local media. He noted that the uncertainty of the situation heightened the fear for those inside, stating, "I didn’t know if shots were going to be fired at me, at the police. It was very nerve-racking."
Following a thorough search, authorities determined the threat was not credible and confirmed there was no active shooter on the premises. Investigators subsequently identified the individual responsible for the call, who was located inside the hospital. Police have charged the man with falsely summoning or giving false reports to law enforcement officials. Officials from Centra, the health system operating the hospital, declined requests for comment regarding the incident.
This event marks the second security scare at Lynchburg General Hospital in recent weeks. In January, the facility was placed on lockdown following a bomb threat that was also determined to be a hoax. LPD officials stated they do not believe the two incidents are connected. No injuries were reported in either event.
Operational Impact and Legal Consequences
The swift escalation of resources to Lynchburg General Hospital highlights the severe operational strain placed on public safety agencies by "swatting" incidents or false alarms in critical infrastructure zones. Beyond the immediate disruption to medical services, such events divert law enforcement assets from genuine emergencies. Legally, the charges filed reflect the serious nature of fabricating threats against public venues. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
