Metro Slow To Evacuate Pentagon Station During August Emergency

ARLINGTON, VA — An investigation into Metro's actions during the Aug. 3 stabbing incident at the Pentagon Transit Center determined that Metrorail failed to establish an on-scene command center and did not communicate effectively with its personnel at the Pentagon Station during the emergency.

These delays led to a 13-minute gap between the report of an active shooter situation and the evacuation of the Pentagon Station platform. In addition, Metro lost track of station personnel during the emergency.

Around 10:37 a.m., on Aug. 3, Austin William Lanz, 27, of Georgia, was shot by law enforcement officers and died at the scene after he fatally stabbed Pentagon Face Protection Officer George Gonzales at the Pentagon Transit Center.

Military officials quickly put the Pentagon on lockdown and multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene after receiving reports of the sound of gunfire coming from the area of the transit center. Although the incident was later revealed to involve a stabbing, it was initially reported to be an active shooter situation.

Read more: https://patch.com/district-columbia/washingtondc/s/hzb7a/metro-slow-evacuate-pentagon-station-during-august-emergency