Christopher Damien, Palm Springs Desert Sun
Published 11:25 a.m. ET July 7, 2020 | Updated 12:58 p.m. ET July 7, 2020
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — A Marine is being transported to a hospital for a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a two-hour interaction with police at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms.
Captain Nicole Plymale said the base’s police department received reports of shots fired around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. Officers were dispatched to the scene and soon after “cordoned off” at the suspect.
The suspect sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound around 8:30 a.m., Plymale said, and is being transported to a medical facility for treatment. No other injuries have been reported.
A shelter-in-place order has been lifted, the gates to the base have been reopened and staff are returning to work as normal, Plymale said.
Authorities were allowing vehicles to enter the base as of 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
The U.S. Marines confirmed on Twitter that authorities were investigating reports of an active shooter on the base in a series of tweets starting around 8 a.m.
“Military police responded to reports of gunshots,” a second tweet said. “We cannot confirm a suspect in custody at this time. More to follow.”
The base is located just adjacent to the town of Twentynine Palms in the high desert of Southern California, about 150 miles east of Los Angeles. At almost 600,000 acres, it is the largest base operated by the Marine Corps. About 8,500 people live on the base and about 25,000 live in the neighboring town.
#BREAKING: We are aware of reports of an active shooter at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center – Twentynine Palms. More to follow.
— U.S. Marines (@USMC) July 7, 2020
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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