Gannett Building in Virginia Evacuated After ‘Mistaken Report’ of Man With a Gun

A police car in a file photo. Mira Oberman/AFP/Getty Images

The Gannett building in McLean, Virginia was evacuated on Aug. 7 due to reports of a man with a gun.

“We are responding to reports of a man with weapon at the Gannett Building located at 7950 Jones Branch Drive in McLean. Please avoid the area,” the Fairfax County Police Department said at about 12:30 p.m.

In an update about 40 minutes later, the department said: “We are working to investigate this reported threat. Officers are currently working to clear the building. At this time, we have found no evidence of any acts of violence or injuries.”

Susan Page, USA Today’s Washington bureau chief, told NBC: “I’m told that my coworkers have been evacuated from the building, they are outside and not sure what is happening.. we are in a wait and see for the moment.. there are a lot of police officers on the scene now.”

An FBI source told WUSA that no shots were fired and no injuries were reported as of yet.

Nathan Bomey, a USA Today reporter, posted a picture of people gathered outside the building following an evacuation.

“Worth knowing: We share our building with several other unrelated tenants. There’s a major police presence on site, but can’t tell what’s happening,” he added.

“What outside looks like. sorry everyone I am truthfully in shock, trying to be as coherent as possible to get info out clearly and accurately,” added David Oliver of USA Today. “You never think it’s going to happen to you. this can happen to anyone at any time. we are evacuating the building. will fill you in when i learn any more. thanks for all the kind messages,” he wrote.

Gannett is a publishing company that owns USA Today, among other outlets.

Authorities later told USA Today that the report of a person with a weapon was mistaken.

“There was no indication of a shooting or a shooter at the building, according to a federal law enforcement official who was not authorized to speak publicly,” the outlet reported.