Lockdown at Sutter Santa Rosa hospital over ‘unfounded’ shooting threat

Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital went on lockdown Wednesday night after a patient’s family member threatened to come to the hospital with a firearm, sheriff’s officials said.

The threat turned out to be “unfounded,” said sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Spencer Crum. The hospital reported the incident and the resulting lockdown at 7:48 p.m., he said.

Shaun Ralston, a hospital spokesman, said someone “called the hospital on the phone and verbally threatened to shoot a patient’s visitor.” Officials placed the hospital on temporary lockdown and notified law enforcement as a precautionary measure.

“At all times, the building was secure and safety protocols were followed,” Ralston said. “Patients, visitors and staff remained safe. The hospital stayed open through the evening, without incident, and operations continued uninterrupted serving our patients.”

Ralston said the family member never showed up and the hospital was open as usual Thursday. But hospital staff were “taking extra measures to screen visitors.”