Live Updates | Active shooter alert at Hanford called a false alarm. No shooter found

1:39 p.m.

Hanford alert false alarm

Reports of an active shooter Tuesday morning at the Hanford site appear to have been a false alarm, according to Hanford officials.

Work being done near the 2750E Building caused the noise that were reported to the Hanford Patrol as shots fired, they said.

“The decision to lock down the area in response to the reports went exactly as required for any such unknown incident,” the Department of Energy said in a statement.

Hanford workers, except for those in the 2750E Building, were told they could return to their normal duties Tuesday afternoon.

The workers at the 2750E Building were still being interviewed about anything they had heard or seen.

About 200 people work in the building, mostly for contractor Washington River Protection Solutions. Some other workers, including subcontractor employees, also have offices there.

Workers are prohibited from carrying guns onto the nuclear reservation.

12:46 p.m.

Hanford building searched

Benton County sheriff’s deputies have completed an initial search of the Hanford site building where shots were reported fired Tuesday morning.

They have found no evidence of shots fired and no one injured.

Law enforcement will continue to do additional searching in the building.

The Department of Energy contracts with Benton County for law enforcement services at the nuclear reservation.

12:06 p.m

Still no reports of injuries

Hanford officials say they still have no reports of anyone injured.

Teams of law enforcement officers continue to methodically search the two-story office building where shots were reported at 10:40 a.m.

11:37 a.m.

Weapon found in vehicle

A gun, possibly a rifle, has been found inside a vehicle, according to police reports.

There is no information on whether it is related to the reported shooting.

Hanford officials said they have not confirmed that shots were fired. Employees in nearby buildings are being told to continue to lock down.

11:28 a.m.

Evacuation underway

Hanford officials announce the 2750E Building is being evacuated. Employees in nearby buildings are told to continue lockdown.

11:27 a.m.

Police searching Hanford buildings

Law enforcement officers are searching buildings at the center of the Hanford site for an active shooter.

Employees remained locked in buildings, some with doors barricaded.

Original story, 11:03 a.m.

Breaking | Armed shooter reported at Hanford nuclear reservation

Police from throughout the Tri-Cities are heading to the Hanford nuclear reservation in Eastern Washington after the report of possible shots fired at the site.

Initial reports were that a person with a shotgun was seen and shots were heard about 10:40 a.m.

The reports came from the 200 East Area in the center of the site in a concrete office building, the 2750E Building, used by Washington River Protection Solutions, the Hanford tank farm contractor.

Affected employees, both at the 2750E Building and nearby buildings, were sent messages telling them to prepare to run, hide or fight.

The 200 East Area is on lockdown with building doors locked and employees not already there told to stay away, said a Hanford spokesman.

Employees across the site have been told to go indoors and no one but law enforcement are being allowed to enter the site.

Benton County sheriff’s deputies are being joined by Richland and Kennewick police in responding along with the Hanford Patrol.

It’s unknown at this time if there are any victims, according to initial reports. However, a call has gone out for a medic.

The nuclear reservation is closed to the public and employees enter at security checkpoints where they are required to show their employment badges. Cars are not searched as they enter.

Hanford employs about 11,000 people, but not all work on the 580-square-mile site.

The center of the site was used to produce plutonium from World War II through the Cold War. Now the federal government is spending about $2.5 billion a year on environmental cleanup of the site.

The site has 56 million gallons of radioactive waste stored in underground tanks and radioactive contamination, but weapons-grade plutonium has been shipped off site. No reactors have operated there since the Cold War.

This story is developing. Check back for more information.

This story was originally published March 1, 2022 at 2:02 PM with the headline "Live Updates | Active shooter alert at Hanford called a false alarm. No shooter found."