MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue trucks blocked off at least one entrance to Nicklaus Children's Hospital Friday afternoon after authorities received reports of an active shooter at the hospital.
A representative from the hospital later said there was no shooting on campus.
Authorities said they responded to the hospital after someone phoned in a bomb threat and claimed that a shooting was going to happen at the hospital.
Miami-Dade Police Detective Daniel Ferrin said the hospital has been evacuated as a precaution because of the threats. Officers are going floor to floor to ensure that the campus is safe.
"We're doing everything that we need to do to make sure that we have everyone safe at the hospital and in the vicinity, as well," Ferrin said.
Sky 10 was above the hospital at 3100 SW 62nd Ave. just before 3:30 p.m. and saw multiple police cars in the area. Several officers were also spotted on the roof of the hospital.
"We are working closely with local police as they investigate a threat made to the hospital," hospital spokeswoman Rachel Perry said. "Together with law enforcement, we are taking measures to safeguard children, families and our staff in light of this situation."
The incident was reportedly unfolding on the third floor of the hospital's research center.
A Local 10 News viewer said that her daughter works at the hospital and was initially told that she couldn't leave the building.
Another woman told Local 10 News by phone about 4:30 p.m. that she, her baby and five others were locked inside a bathroom on the third floor.
"We really didn't know what was going on. We were just locked down in the building and someone started knocking on the door," hospital coordinator Jenny Rakitina said. "We got really scared, so we asked if it was really a shooter. We didn't know if it was the police or somebody else, so the guy said his name. He said his tag number, so we all started laughing. We opened the door and then we saw a few other guys standing there with their guns and we just ran down."
Miami-Dade police said traffic near the hospital was being rerouted.
No injuries were reported.
