According to a base spokesman, U.S. Air Force security personnel exchanged gunfire with someone who opened fire twice Saturday morning at an entrance to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.
“It was an off-base shooting from a passing vehicle that fired shots toward the gate, which prompted our security forces to respond,” base spokeswoman Stefanie Antosh said in a statement. “There is no danger to the installation. We have no injuries, no deaths.”
Antosh said the shooting was investigated by San Antonio police, who said in a news release that the first shooting occurred around 2:15 a.m.
“Security personnel stated that they heard multiple shots and the bullets fired passed right by them,” Sgt. Washington Moscoso said in the press release. “Following this incident, security personnel added more armed guards as a precaution.”
Shortly after 4:30 a.m., a vehicle stopped near the same entrance, Moscoso said.
“For the second time, shots were fired at the Air Force security personnel, but with the additional security personnel present, several Air Force personnel returned fire at the suspect vehicle,” Moscoso said.
The vehicle then fled the scene. No injuries were reported and the shooting remains under investigation, Moscoso said.
According to Antosh, it is not known how many bullets were fired, how many shooters there were or what their motive was.
According to Antosh, the entrance was closed for several hours after the shooting, but reopened around 9:30 a.m. The base was not locked down, however.
In addition to Lackland, Joint Base San Antonio also includes Randolph Air Force Base, the Army's Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis training camp.
Lackland is home to more than 24,000 active-duty service members and 10,000 Department of Defense civilians, according to the base's website. It includes the 37th Training Wing; 149th Fighter Wing; 59th Medical Wing; the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency; 24th Air Force Wing, 67th Network Warfare Wing; the Cryptologic Systems Group; the National Security Agency; and 70 associated units.
