U.S. Air Force security guards engaged in a shootout with an individual who fired shots twice at an entrance to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland early Saturday. According to a spokesperson for the base, “It was an off-base shooting from a passing vehicle that fired shots towards the gate, prompting our security forces to respond,” said base spokesperson Stefanie Antosh in a statement. “There is no threat to the installation. We had no injuries, no fatalities.”
Antosh mentioned that the San Antonio police are investigating the shooting, which occurred around 2:15 a.m. “The security personnel reported hearing several shots fired and seeing the bullets pass by them,” said Sgt. Washington Moscoso in a release. “Following this incident, the security personnel increased the number of armed guards as a precaution.”
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Another vehicle stopped near the same entrance at approximately 4:30 a.m., as mentioned by Moscoso. “For a second time, shots were fired at the Air Force security personnel, but with the additional security personnel present, multiple Air Force personnel fired back at the suspect vehicle,” explained Moscoso. The vehicle then fled, and no injuries were reported. The shootings are still under investigation.
Antosh stated that it was unclear how many shots were fired, how many individuals were involved in the shooting, or what their motive was. The entrance was closed for a few hours after the incident before reopening at 9:30 a.m., and the base was not placed on lockdown.
Joint Base San Antonio includes Randolph Air Force Base, the Army’s Fort Sam Houston, and the Camp Bullis training camp in addition to Lackland. Lackland houses over 24,000 active duty members and 10,000 Department of Defense civilians, according to the base website. It is home to various wings, agencies, and associated units.
