An incident at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital in San Bernardino County led to a significant police response on Wednesday night. Around 6:30 p.m., authorities received reports of a possible gunman in the emergency department. This prompted a swift evacuation of the hospital.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department quickly dispatched deputies to the scene. They began clearing the facility to ensure the safety of patients and staff. By 8 p.m., the department announced that the situation appeared to be a "swatting" call, meaning the threat was false. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the event.
Briana Pastorino, a spokesperson for the hospital, confirmed that after a thorough investigation, law enforcement found no active threat. Normal operations resumed shortly after the all-clear was issued. However, police will continue to be present on campus for further investigation.
A swatting call is a serious issue. It involves someone making a false report to provoke an emergency response, often causing panic and disruption. The Sheriff’s Department had initially warned the public to avoid the area surrounding the hospital and to use alternative routes.
As the situation unfolded, a text alert was sent to students and nearby medical buildings, urging them to take protective actions. Videos shared on social media showed a large number of police vehicles and helicopters at the scene, creating significant traffic delays in the area.
Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, which treats around 90,000 patients annually, is part of the larger Loma Linda University Medical Center. The hospital staff and patients were evacuated in an orderly manner, and the incident ended without any reported injuries.