Report of gunman prompts lockdown at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center

SYLMAR, Calif. (FOX 11) - A report of a man with a gun at Los Angeles County Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in Sylmar Thursday prompted a lockdown of patients and staff, followed by evacuations, until authorities determined that the gunman was gone and the area was safe.

Deputies sent to the facility at 14445 Olive View Drive at 9:20 a.m. preliminarily reported that "no active shooter'' had been found, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Law enforcement then conducted a methodical search of the property, and by about 12:30 p.m. the facility was cleared to resume normal operations, the sheriff's department reported.

No shots were fired and no injuries were reported.

Sheriff's officials said a female member of the medical staff reported that she was confronted by a man wielding a weapon on the second floor of the hospital. The woman ran for safety and reported what she saw to hospital staff, but the man disappeared.

Lois Ramirez of the hospital told KNX Newsradio the facility was placed on lockdown after the report was made to the sheriff's department. As sheriff's deputies began searching and clearing floors, patients and staff were evacuated from the facility to a parking-lot holding area.

Hospital officials said patients in the intensive care unit remained inside the building under guard.

Sheriff's officials said they planned to check hospital surveillance camera footage in hopes of identifying the suspect.

During the search sheriff's deputies detained and questioned a number of people as the building was cleared, but they were all eventually cleared and released.

Olive View Drive was closed in the area as law enforcement swarmed to the hospital.

The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the hospital to help tend to the needs of patients who were evacuated from the building. News outlets reported that one pediatric patient was taken to another hospital.

Mobile app users, click here for live video.