Texas: Military base fights armed gunmen at entrance

U.S. Air Force security forces exchanged gunfire with unknown assailants who opened fire at an entrance to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (JBSA) in Texas early Saturday morning, the Associated Press reported.

There were no reported injuries in the incident, which occurred around 4:30 a.m. CST, according to base officials.

Stefanie Antosh, head of public relations at the base, provided details. San Antonio Express NewsAccording to Antosh, security forces returned fire on a passing vehicle at one of the base's entrances. The quick response of security personnel underscored the readiness of the base's defense protocols.

“We don't know what the trigger was, if anything,” Antosh said, according to AP. “But there was no active threat to the plant, and there is no active threat to the plant.”

The San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) responded immediately to the shooting and assisted in the collection of evidence. Important details of the incident are currently unknown. The number of shots fired during the exchange of gunfire has not yet been determined.

In addition, investigators have not yet determined the number of shooters involved in the incident. The motive for the attack also remains unclear.

In a statement to NewsweekJBSA-Lackland said the “main gate of the training annex is now open following a shooting incident at the facility gate off-base earlier today. JBSA officials also confirmed there is no threat to the facility. In the incident, unidentified members in a sedan fired shots at members of the JBSA security team while they were on duty at the Chapman Annex gate.”

JBSA also confirmed that San Antonio Police are leading the aggravated assault investigation.

Newsweek The SAPD asked for a comment via an online form on Saturday.

In response to the shooting, base officials took immediate action. The entrance where the incident occurred was closed for several hours to allow for a thorough investigation of the scene. However, Antosh confirmed that the base was not sealed off despite the seriousness of the incident.

Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland is part of a larger military complex that includes Randolph Air Force Base, Fort Sam Houston, and Camp Bullis training camp. Together, these facilities form one of the largest joint bases in the Department of Defense (DOD). The base plays a critical role in various military operations and training programs.

The base remains operational following the incident and security personnel continue to perform their normal duties. Base management has stressed that there is no ongoing threat to the facility in order to allay any concerns among base personnel and the local community.

Military officials and law enforcement agencies will continue to closely monitor the situation.

This story has been updated with a statement from JBSA-Lackland.

Update, 08/18/2024, 10:11 AM ET: The headline has been changed.