An 'armed and dangerous' escaped prisoner is on the loose in Fairfax, Virginia
The prisoner had been in the custody of a private security guard at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church,Virginia, before breaking free and then fleeing with the officer's gun, the Fairfax County Police Department said on its Twitter account.
It was not clear who opened fire or whether anyone was injured in the incident, Fairfax County Police Department Spokeswoman Ellen Pittman told CBS.
The hospital is now on lockdown and nearby roads have been shut down, according to police.
Fairfax County police have warned that the escaped prisoner, Wossen Assaye, is "armed and dangerous" and that he's wearing a hospital gown and no shoes. Assaye is about 6 feet tall and 170 pounds.
Police are now hunting for the suspect.
There's a heavy police presence outside the hospital, with several squad cars on surrounding streets.
UPDATE: Virginia hospital on lockdown after armed prisoner escapes; manhunt underway. More: http://t.co/pCVzQIy8JX pic.twitter.com/bv0dgX3Sge
- WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) March 31, 2015
RT @8NEWS: #Fairfax hospital on lockdown as police search for inmate armed with gun: http://t.co/aW0lxwrtLM #Virginia pic.twitter.com/0XucB6PbMK
- Morgan Dean (@Morgan8news) March 31, 2015
A manhunt is underway in Fairfax County Virginia where a prisoner escaped with a security officer's gun. pic.twitter.com/bAXhRnsmXf
- Good Day Atlanta (@GoodDayAtlanta) March 31, 2015
INOVA Fairfax Hospital prisoner escape with large police presence this morning pic.twitter.com/bCfAHihSuB
- Dave Rysak (@DaveFox5DC) March 31, 2015
Representatives for Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia, and for the police department could not be immediately reached for comment.
(Reuters reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; editing by John Stonestreet)
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