An armed teen has been arrested and another suspect has escaped after plowing through a security checkpoint at Joint Base Andrews on Sunday night just after Vice President Kamala Harris and members of President Biden landed.
The breach prompted a six-hour lockdown of the Maryland base the President and his top officials frequently use when flying out of Washington D.C.
Harris and cabinet members including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg had just departed the base after returning from a trip to Selma, Alabama, to mark the anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
An update from the military facility revealed that the main gates have been opened after a full-sweep declared that the second intruder had left the base and is now on the run.
A release from Joint Base Andrews said that the 17-year-old who has been arrested remains in custody after being found in possession of a firearm.
Joint Base Andrews in Maryland has gone on lockdown after reports of an armed individual on-base
A line of cars and people wait to exit a gate at Joint base Andrews during a lockdown situation in Maryland
The incident appeared to be one of the most recent serious breaches of security in memory at Andrews, which is only a few miles outside Washington, D.C., in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
About an hour before the breach occurred, Harris together with four Cabinet secretaries had been on the base as they travelled back from Selma, Alabama, where they had participated in commemorative events for ‘Bloody Sunday.’
The group landed in Maryland at about 9pm and left the shortly afterward, the White House explained.
Harris departed via the Marine Two helicopter back to Washington D.C. before the report of a security breach had been made public.
The four secretaries were Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Housing Secretary Marcia Fudge, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan.
Col. Tyler Schaff, 316th Wing and Joint Base Andrews installation commander said: ‘I am incredibly proud of the quick actions of our Defenders to immediately deploy the barriers to stop last night’s stolen vehicle and then apprehend one of the individuals that had a weapon.
Moments earlier, Vice President Kamala Harris together with four Cabinet secretaries had been on the base as they travelled back from Selma, Alabama, where they had participated in commemorative events for ‘Bloody Sunday.’
An update from the military facility (on their Facebook page, pictured) revealed that the main gates have been opened after a full-sweep declared that the second intruder had left the base and is now on the run
There was a line of traffic building up as personnel waited to leave the base following the security breach
A military police officer is seen at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., near the Main Gate after reports of an armed intruder entering the base caused a lockdown Sunday
‘The Defenders handled the intense situation with discipline and calm professionalism.
‘We are also thankful for our partnerships with local authorities, who responded rapidly on base to assist the 316th Security Forces Group throughout the night.’
Units from Prince George’s County Police, Maryland State Police, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Office of Special Investigation were among those who worked alongside Joint Base Andrews Defenders to fully clear the base.
Armed police officers were on high alert after a breach of security at the base
‘We can confirm that the individual who was apprehended had a weapon, but no shots have been fired,’ Joint Base Andrews said in a statement in the early hours of Morning on Facebook.
‘There is not an active shooter situation at Joint Base Andrews; however, the intruder’s whereabouts are currently unknown.’
Just after midnight, the base posted an update where they stated a search of the base was being conducted.
Joint Base Andrews goes into lockdown after two armed intruders plow through checkpoint moments after VP Harris departed in Marine Two. One is arrested and one is still on the lose
‘Our Security Forces Defenders are continuing to conduct an initial sweep across the installation with base housing as our first priority. After initial sweeps, a deep search will occur across the base if the intruder has not yet been found.’
President Joe Biden returned to the White House from Delaware via helicopter, according to The Washington Post.
Later in the evening, Joint Base Andrews stated that its main gate remained closed following the security breach.
An investigation of the incident is ongoing.
US Vice President Kamala Harris (C) marches across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to commemorate the 57th anniversary of ‘Bloody Sunday’ in Selma, Alabama on Sunday
President Joe Biden returned to the White House from Delaware via Marine One on Sunday night and saluted to the waiting Marine just before the security breach unfolded