All-clear issued after Maryland State House put on lockdown for anonymous threat in phone call to police

The Maryland State House in Annapolis was put under lockdown shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday after an unnamed individual called the Annapolis Police Department and threatened to target the building, according to the state Department of General Services.

UPDATE: General Assembly contracted for text alert system days before lockdown

Annapolis Police Department spokesperson Bernie Bennett said the caller was anonymous and that the department hadn’t received any reports of violence at the State House. No one had taken credit for the threat, either.

“You have to react to every threat as though it’s credible and serious,” Bennett said.

Annapolis Police Chief Ed Jackson said that police had received a call from someone threatening to “shoot up the place,” The Baltimore Sun reported.

Within minutes of Annapolis police notifying state and local law enforcement agencies, the Maryland Capitol Police placed the State House, Government House – where Gov. Wes Moore and his family reside – and House and Senate office buildings on lockdown, DGS spokesman Nick Cavey said in a statement.

After Maryland Capitol Police conducted sweeps of the buildings and surrounding grounds, the lockdown and shelter-in-place orders were lifted shortly before 7 p.m.

“State House grounds have resumed standard security procedures and protocol,” Cavey said.

Moore, Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller and Senate President Bill Ferguson were all still in the State House when it went under lockdown. A handful of legislative committees were still meeting in office buildings down the street, too.

Authorities instructed everyone within the State House grounds to shelter in place and listen for directions from law enforcement, which had a heavy presence at the historic building.

People inside the building were asked to shelter in place while law enforcement agents searched the building and grounds, including with police dogs. Police cars were lined up outside the building, blocking roads that lead to a road that encircles the State House.

Those in the State House were told to close and lock their doors. About 30 minutes after the lockdown began, troopers escorted those in the basement to the Lawyers Mall outside the building.

Heavily armed law enforcement officers with rifles pointed at entry doors lined a basement hallway as news reporters were evacuated.

An officer said law enforcement was clearing the State House room by room.

Moore was expected to meet at Government House — adjacent to the State House — with municipal mayors visiting Annapolis for the day around the time the lockdown went into effect, multiple mayors said.

Middletown Burgess John Miller, who was among a group of mayors running behind for the reception, said the Maryland Municipal League was scheduled to have an event with the governor beginning around 5 p.m. as part of its annual Maryland Mayors Association winter conference.

Moore said in a statement that “our family is grateful for the members of the Maryland Capitol Police, Maryland State Police, Annapolis Police Department, and the Anne Arundel County Police Department who secured the State House Grounds and kept us safe today.

“These brave men and women aren’t just Maryland’s finest – they’re Maryland’s promise,” Moore said.

In a joint statement, Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Adrienne Jones thanked the law enforcement officers who responded to the State House grounds Thursday evening.

“We and everyone in the legislative complex are grateful for their presence as we continue to do the people’s work,” the presiding officers said.

My staff and I are okay but this is definitely a scary situation in Annapolis right now. https://t.co/pXHvfA2Uib

— Michele Guyton (@guyton42b) February 29, 2024

The Associated Press contributed to this story.