Reported active shooter was a man with water pistol at Mercy Fort Smith

FORT SMITH, Ark. (KOAM) — About 10:30 a.m. Monday reports of an active shooter on the campus of Mercy Fort Smith, 7301 Rogers Ave, began circulating on social media as a huge police response occurred at the main campus.

Not long afterwards Chief Danny Baker released a statement:

“There is no active shooter at Mercy. No shots were fired and no one has been injured. There was a man reported as armed with a gun who ran from security. Law enforcement is searching for the man at this time.”

UPDATE : About 3 hours later, 1:30 p.m. police search teams from Fort Smith Police and other local agencies located a 34-year-old man hiding within a small box in the corner of an educational classroom at Mercy Fort Smith.

He was in possession of a water pistol that was painted black to look like a genuine firearm, a physicians tablet and laptop.

It was alleged the male pointed the firearm at a security guard upon being confronted for being on the premises.

• CHARGES
• Aggravated Assault
• Felony Theft
• Impairing the Operation of a Vital Public Facility

He was transported to the Sebastian County Jail and is being held with no bond.

“We would like to express our gratitude to all of our law enforcement partners, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Marshals, Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Highway Patrol, Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office, Barling Police, Central City Police, Lavaca Police, and the Fort Smith Public School District Police Department, as well as Emergency Medical Services personnel for their prompt response and assistance.”

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