Hospital Lockdown, Swatting Suspected
South County Hospital Locked Down After Reported Shooter Threat, Officials Suspect 'Swatting' Call
Key Points
Police described the incident as potentially a swatting call—a false 911 report intended to trigger a rapid emergency response—prompting a lockdown and on-site assessment, with officials noting the situation was still developing as of about 1:30 p.m.
A heavy police presence surrounded the hospital, including Kenyan Avenue being blocked at the Pleasant Street intersection as officers secured the area and surrounding streets were closed.
Public-safety communications urged people to avoid the area while investigators worked, with authorities directing that incoming patients be diverted and the scene remain restricted during the investigation.
South County Hospital is located in Wakefield, a neighborhood in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, providing the geographic context for the incident.
South County Hospital in Wakefield, Rhode Island was placed on lockdown Friday after a 911 call reported an active shooter inside the facility. Police quickly responded with a heavy presence but found no confirmed shooter and no identified victims, according to Boston Globe and The Mirror.
By early afternoon, authorities cleared the hospital and declared it safe, RICentral reported. The hospital was fully reopened after investigators completed their sweep. Officials raised the possibility that the call was a 'swatting' incident — a false 911 report made to trigger a large emergency response.
A False Alarm Triggers Major Emergency Response
The 911 call claimed an active shooter was inside South County Hospital. South Kingstown Police rushed to the scene and locked down the building. Kenyan Avenue was blocked at the Pleasant Street intersection. Officers secured the hospital and closed surrounding streets, The Mirror reported.
As of about 1:30 p.m., police said the situation was still developing. They found no confirmed shooter and no victims. Officials urged the public to stay away from the area while the investigation continued, according to Boston Globe.
Patients Diverted as Hospital Stays Locked Down
During the lockdown, incoming patients were diverted to other nearby facilities. The hospital could not accept new arrivals while officers worked inside. Staff and patients already inside remained in place as authorities searched the building, Boston Globe reported.
The lockdown lasted through much of the afternoon. Access to the hospital was restricted the entire time. No one was allowed in or out until police gave the all-clear, according to RICentral.
Officials Suspect a Swatting Call Behind the Scare
Authorities discussed the possibility that the 911 report was a swatting call. Swatting means someone makes a fake emergency call to send police rushing to a location. It can tie up first responders and put real people in danger. Boston Globe reported that officials raised this as a likely explanation.
Rolling Out noted that the incident reflects a troubling trend of false emergency calls targeting hospitals. Such calls strain resources and disrupt patient care. Investigators were working to trace the origin of the 911 report as of Friday afternoon.
Hospital Cleared and Reopened After Investigation
Police eventually declared South County Hospital safe and lifted the lockdown. The hospital reopened its doors to patients and staff. Providence Journal reported that authorities gave the all-clear after completing their search of the building.
No arrests were immediately announced. The investigation into who placed the call was ongoing. Authorities did not release a timeline for when charges, if any, might be filed.
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