Possible Active Shooter at Alabama Military Installation

a reply to: TheRedneck

A lot of times it's just an oversaturation of the network. Every single person there is trying to call every single person they know and the infrastructure isn't designed for that.

a reply to: TheRedneck

It's one of two things: the capability does exist to shut down a network in a given area, but that requires cooperation with the cell providers. It's the exception, not the rule. The rule is that the networks simply get overwhelmed. I know it's a "weak" excuse, but it's an accurate one. If everybody in those buildings is lighting off calls at the same time, it's going to degrade the network capability.

That's why service providers tell people if you're in a large-scale event, use text or email or twitter to send messages to non-emergency personnel. The goal is to keep the phone network as free as possible to contact emergency services.

Just checked my email... sections of UAH connected to Marshall Space Flight Center are also under lock down.

Gate 9 is no longer blocked?

TheRedneck

a reply to: Shamrock6

We actually had that happen back in 2011 when the tornados came through, but we still had signal. We just couldn't access the signal. This was more like actual signal loss.

TheRedneck

Why would law enforcement leave and not make a statement? Hearing that DHS and the FBI have left.

Looks like it's winding down....

TheRedneck

All gates are open. No confirmed arrests or casualties (thank God!).

TheRedneck

That public affairs guy looked more like an Operator than a public affairs guy.

Looks like employees are leaving. Waiting to hear from my son.

TheRedneck

a reply to: TheRedneck

Twitter has reports that a) Sparkman is still on lockdown and b) employees are being taken out and told to go home.

Lock down lifted at 12:30, investigation ongoing.

Sounds like domestic to me.

TheRedneck

Finally got a text through to my boy. He's good. Redstone is back open for business except for the Sparkman Center. No one has any information about what's going on there, but it's contained. No active threat at this time.

It sounds to me now, since the blood pressure has dropped to physically permissible levels, that this was a domestic situation... probably an argument and somebody pulled a weapon. I'm sure we'll find out about it in a few days.

I'm really impressed with the response from the military, the police, the FBI, Homeland Security, and everyone else who responded. You guys are AWESOME. The Russian Army couldn't have blasted into that place.

I also want to thank everyone who sent out prayers for my boy. Thank you! And I want to apologize if I was any less than myself this morning... trying times, trying times indeed. It was all I could do to not jump in the car and get to him, which would not have ended well for me. That's the danger of being redneck, I guess...

Anyway, it's over and done.

TheRedneck

a reply to: TheRedneck

I am less than 15 minutes from gate 9. Many family and friends of mine work on base. I understand the fear that you felt. Glad this ended so peacefully.

Thank you ATS for staying so active and up to date on this thread. I was in meetings and couldn't do anything for info except hit the refresh here to get updates.

Just heard from a friend that there may possibly be injuries and a woman has shot herself. (Not reliable info since they aren't present on the scene.) Just putting it out there.

Edit: Apprently the above is a false rumor. According to the news, this is what we have.

Col. Tom Holliday, garrison commander, said they received two 911 calls about a possible active shooter at the Sparkman Complex. The facility was put on lockdown and investigated. Holliday confirmed there was no shooter found and no injuries. He said there was no evidence that any shots were fired. Normal operations resumed shortly before 1 p.m. The military's criminal investigations division is now handling the investigation.

www.waff.com...

a reply to: Doodle19815

That's the word I just got from my son, too. False alarm, but he said they expected to prosecute someone for it.

May Huntsville have mercy on their soul after all the commotion they stirred up...

TheRedneck

a reply to: TheRedneck

Many people on FB are speculating that this was really the drill (scheduled for tomorrow). If it was, it got way out of hand. Somebody definitely has some explaining to do.

a reply to: Doodle19815

No, not a drill.

I'm hearing rumors that Brown's Ferry is being checked out by the Madison Sheriff, and a day care close to Redstone also had a threat phoned in. Sounds like someone wanted some jollies.

I hope they can keep laughing when Big Bubba decides they've got 'right purdy' body parts... cause they're going up the river for a very, very, very long time!

TheRedneck

a reply to: TheRedneck

I agree with you. Also, we had the terrorist who was arrested last week.

This post from Team Redstone FB sums up many people's feelings though.

a reply to: Doodle19815

I'll be watching 54 and 48 news tonight... I want to know what happened, too. If it was a prank, they need to put the prankster in jail until the jail rots on top of him, then move him to another jail and let that one rot on top of him.

If there was a shooting, we need to know who was shot.

If it was anything else, we need to know that too.

TheRedneck

I can sympathize with some of the comments made on the Team Redstone FB page. Making, or receiving for that matter, a phone call to loved ones to explain that you are in lock down due to an active shooter situation in the immediate vicinity is not fun. The lack of information, and the confusion about the event just made a bad situation worse. First it was one shooter, then it was two shooters with hostages and fatalities. Then, it was a female shooter with a hostage, and finally no shooter. Wait, what?! What do you mean no shooter?

All I can say is the police, SWAT, and FBI that responded were definitely treating the situation as "real world". They definitely did not have the practice scenario/drill mentality. You could see it their faces and their behavior.