Watch CBS News

All Clear After 'Zone-By-Zone' Search Of Rose Medical Center

DENVER (CBS4) - Police patrolled the rooftop of a building on Rose Medical Center Friday afternoon after officers received reports of shots heard at the hospital. All lockdowns were lifted shortly after 8 p.m. Friday.

rose-medical-center
(credit: CBS)

Copter4 flew over the hospital at 4700 East Hale Parkway, near 9th and Colorado, just after 4 p.m. where there were several police vehicles parked outside.

Multiple people called 911 at 4:17 p.m. saying they heard shots fired at the hospital.

Michael Bishop was trying to pick up his wife after her shift ended in the emergency room.

rose-emergency
(credit: CBS)

"She said somebody had sighted somebody with a gun outside the building and that was pretty much the initial information. So I just parked myself in front of the building and there seemed to be regular activity. There didn't seem to be any concern other than the lockdown," said Bishop.

The Rose Medical Center campus was placed in a lockdown status a little after 4 p.m. where no one was allowed either in or out of the hospital. The VA Hospital located across the street from Rose Medical Center was also placed in lockdown status. The lockdowns were lifted just after 8 p.m. Friday.

rose-emergency
(credit: CBS)

"We conducted a zone-by-zone systematic search of the facility. We did not locate a suspect or victim," said Denver Police Officer Tyrone Campbell. "We are not going to talk about the details of the investigation but I can say our detectives will look at everything."

Police tweeted an update at 5:30 p.m. that no victims or injuries had been reported.

rose-medical-center-1
Copter4 flew over Rose Medical Center (credit: CBS)

Police conducted a room-by-room search inside the complex. Campbell said the search is standard protocol in these situations.

Bishop said he watched the massive response by police including SWAT teams, as he waited for his wife to be released.

rose-medical-center
Copter4 flew over Rose Medical Center (credit: CBS)

"She says there are currently police right outside the ER," said Bishop. "My worry is, my wife has worked here for 25 years so we have lots of friends, so I'm a little concerned."

Dan Bisbee went to the hospital to visit his son in the NICU.

rose-med-center
(credit: CBS)

"People are barricaded in, not allowed to leave their rooms," said Bisbee while his wife was inside. "She feels safe. She's in a secure part of the building and everyone is calm."

When this all started, police tweeted an update that there was a report of shots heard at the hospital.

Armed officers were spotted on the roof. A patient inside the hospital told CBS4 that the building was in lockdown before the announcement was made public.

rose-medical-center-2
Copter4 flew over Rose Medical Center (credit: CBS)

The Copter4 crew was asked to help officers looking for a white male in his mid-30s, about 130 pounds, wearing a flannel shirt, a white cowboy hat, maroon shirt and white tennis shoes.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.