Lockdown lifted at Rose Medical Center in Denver after 'shots heard'; no suspect or victims found

DENVER - Police swarmed Rose Medical Center in Denver Friday afternoon after receiving several reports of shots heard at the hospital, though there was no suspect or victims found after an hourslong sweep.

Police said just before 10 p.m. they did not find any victims or a possible shooter after a full sweep of the campus. A spokesperson for the hospital said earlier in the evening all employees and patients were safe.

By 7:30 p.m., the hospital and police were “systematically” releasing various zones of the hospital as they were cleared by officers. People inside were being escorted through the main doors by police.

“Our job is not to do it quickly, it’s to do it correctly,” Denver Police spokesman Tyrone Campbell said.

Shelter-in-place orders for all hospital employees and patients have since been lifted after several hours.

Authorities maintained they were looking for a white male in his mid-30s and around 130 pounds named as a person of interest, though police have not released further details about why the man is of interest. The man was wearing a hat and a flannel shirt.

Campbell could also not confirm reports from people at the hospital they heard shots fired.

Aerial images from Air Tracker 7 showed a heavy police presence at the hospital located off Colorado Boulevard and Hale Parkway beginning around 4 p.m..

An operator at Rose Medical Center confirmed to Denver7 that the campus was on Code: Silver during the investigation, which means there is an active shooter situation.

Medical center spokeswoman Julie Hogan said at 7:30 all patients and employees were safe throughout the lockdown.

“This is a reality we live in. Like every other health care facility in the country, we have trained,” said Hogan.

Night shift employees at the medical center were asked to come into the hospital for work, but to park in the Founders building parking lot and to come in through badge doors only.

The hospital is surrounded by a heavily populated residential area. Some apartment complexes near the campus alerted their tenants of the police situation at the hospital. 

DPD said its investigation would be ongoing even after the sweep was complete.

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