By Police1 Staff
FAIRFAX, Va. — Fairfax County police responded to reports of an active shooter at a business and discovered that it was actually a drill, WTOP reported.
The incident occurred Oct. 15 when the department tweeted they were investigating a report of shots fired. Forty-five minutes later, police tweeted to confirm the scene was actually an active shooter drill.
Police were unaware of the drill. A federal agency was holding the training exercise, police spokesperson Officer Shelley Broderick said to the publication.
Other surrounding departments, including the FBI Washington Field Office, were not made aware of the drill either, the agencies told WTOP.
One of the building’s tenants received an email informing them about the drill, and the tenant forwarded the email to another person. The other person, not knowing it was a drill, called 911 under the assumption there was an active shooter on scene.
Residents were alarmed by the heavy police presence, according to the report.
Abby Lundberg told the publication she was happy with the way police responded, but the community and surrounding neighbors need to be informed.
However, Michael Edwards told the publication an unannounced drill might be a good idea.
“If they do the same thing on a real active incident, I feel safe,” Edwards said in his interview.