Hanford Nuclear Site Lockdown Lifted: No Injuries Reported

BENTON COUNTY, WA — Reports of a potential active shooter at the Hanford Nuclear Site had officials ordering evacuations and lockdowns midday Tuesday. However, after a thorough search of the area, law enforcement agencies say it appears the incident was a false alarm.

At around 11:30 a.m. Hanford site management reported that it had received unconfirmed reports of shots fired in the 2750 E administrative office building in the 200 East area. All affected 2750 E personnel were then evacuated as a precaution, site management said. All other personnel were ordered to lockdown and remain indoors.

The Benton County Sheriff's Office, Hanford Patrol and the U.S. Department of Energy all sent agents to investigate.

After searching the building and surrounding area several times, officers say they've determined there was no shooting and no injuries have been reported.

According to site management, the sound of work happening adjacent to the office building may have sounded like gunfire, triggering the emergency response. Lockdowns and evacuations have all since been lifted, though officers will continue to investigate the incident.

The Hanford Site is a decommissioned nuclear production complex along the Columbia River in Benton County. It employs about 400 people, crews who have been working to clear the site since 1989. The site is about 10 miles north of Richland, where a gunman opened fire Feb. 7 inside a Fred Meyer store. In that shooting, a shopper died, and a worker was critically wounded.

Patch Editor Daniel Hampton contributed to this report.