Active Shooter Has Taken Hostages At Largest Veterans Home In U.S.
California fire official says armed man has taken three hostages at veterans home; calls it ‘active shooter situation’
Citing the Highway Patrol, CNN affiliates in Northern California report the gunman is holding three hostages at the veterans home in Napa Valley.
“CHP is working with Napa County Sheriff’s Office to establish a perimeter and clear buildings,” the Highway Patrol said on Twitter.
Napa County Fire Captain Chase Beckman told the Associated Press that a gunman has taken hostages at the Veterans Home of California in Yountville, less than 10 miles north of Napa. It’s the largest veterans home in the U.S., with about 1,000 aged or disabled veterans, according to the California Department of Veterans Affairs. The home is on lockdown.
BREAKING: California fire official says armed man has taken three hostages at veterans home; calls it `active shooter situation’
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 9, 2018
FBI officials are enroute to the scene, KTVU reported, and are enlisting a SWAT team to negotiate with the gunman.
The Napa County Sheriff’s Office said officers responded to the Veterans Home of California in Yountville around 10:45 a.m. local time and a shelter-in-place order was issued.
Jan Thornton’s father, Harry Edwards, is a resident at the Yountville home. Thornton told said that she hasn’t been able to reach her father yet, but she said staff at the home told her that her father is safe and the shooter isn’t in the same building as him. The campus is large and made up of individual buildings.
“He’s a World War II veteran. He’s 96. He’s seen enough. He doesn’t need to see this,” Thornton said. “We were just hearing about all of this, and then here it comes to your doorstep.”
Video of the situation taken by Bay Area outlet KTVU reporter Mark Ibanez showed police and emergency vehicles outside the home.
Police say that 15 to 20 shots were fired at the Yountville Veterans Center, where three people were taken hostage. https://t.co/PmEDdRErzO Video: @MarkIbanez2 pic.twitter.com/E5gCs0p7LN
— KTVU (@KTVU) March 9, 2018
Praying that no one is injured and this resolves peacefully with the shooter in custody.
Alex D is a conservative journalist, who covers all issues of importance for conservatives. He writes for Supreme Insider, Red State Nation, Defiant America, and Right Journalism. He brings attention and insight from what happens in the White House to the streets of American towns, because it all has an impact on our future, and the country left for our children. Exposing the truth is his ultimate goal, mixed with wit where it’s appropriate, and feels that journalism shouldn’t be censored. Join him & let’s spread the good word!
