Rochester General Hospital was temporarily placed on lockdown early Thursday after police received a report that an armed woman outside the hospital was threatening to harm herself.
Police respond to reported threat outside RGH
Just after midnight Thursday, July 9, Rochester police responded to Rochester General Hospital, 1425 Portland Ave., after receiving a report that a woman outside the hospital was armed with a firearm and threatening self-harm, Rochester Police Lt. Kevin Cummings said.
Hospital placed on lockdown
Because of the reported threat, the hospital was temporarily placed on lockdown while Rochester police and hospital security searched the exterior of the property, including the parking garage.
Was anyone found?
No. Officers did not locate anyone matching the reported description or anyone armed with a firearm on the hospital campus, Cummings said.
“Based on the investigation, it appears the report was a prank call,” Cummings said. “At this time, there is no reason to believe there is any threat to the hospital.”
Was patient care affected?
No. Patient care was not disrupted during the lockdown, Rochester Regional Health spokesperson Cristina Domingues said in a news release.
Following a thorough search of the property, normal hospital operations resumed, she said.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: RGH lockdown lifted after prank call about armed woman
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team | USA TODAY Network
