U.S. Air Force security guards engaged in a gunfire exchange with an individual who fired shots at an entrance to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland early Saturday, as confirmed by a base spokesperson.
“It was an off-base shooting from a passing vehicle that fired shots towards the gate, prompting our security forces to respond,” stated base spokesperson Stefanie Antosh. “There is no threat to the installation. We had no injuries, no fatalities.”
Antosh mentioned that the San Antonio police were investigating the incident, with the first shooting occurring around 2:15 a.m.
“The security personnel reported hearing several shots being fired as well as seeing the rounds pass by them,” said Sgt. Washington Moscoso in the release. “Following the incident, additional armed guards were stationed as a precaution.”
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A vehicle later stopped near the same entrance shortly after 4:30 a.m., Moscoso noted.
“For a second time, shots were fired at the Air Force security personnel, however, with the additional security personnel present, multiple Air Force personnel returned fire toward the suspect vehicle,” Moscoso detailed.
The vehicle then fled the scene. Moscoso confirmed that no injuries were reported and that the shootings were still under investigation.
Details such as the number of rounds fired, the amount of shooters, and their motive were unknown, according to Antosh.
The entrance remained closed for several hours after the shooting before reopening around 9:30 a.m., but the base was not placed on lockdown, Antosh clarified.
Joint Base San Antonio encompasses Randolph Air Force Base, the Army’s Fort Sam Houston, and the Camp Bulllis training camp in addition to Lackland.
Lackland is the residence for over 24,000 active duty members and 10,000 Department of Defense civilians, as per the base website. It consists of numerous units including the 37th Training Wing, 149th Fighter Wing, 59th Medical Wing, Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency, 24th Air Force Wing, 67th Network Warfare Wing, Cryptologic Systems Group, National Security Agency, and 70 associated units.
