Active shooter reported at Chicago's Willis Tower unfounded, police say

CHICAGO - Inside and outside Chicago’s iconic Willis Tower, there was uncertainty and fear Wednesday afternoon.

One employee described the experience as, "kind of surreal in the moment, but definitely pretty frightening."

Around 3:45 p.m., Chicago police responded to a report of an active shooter inside the building.

An officer was heard on police scanner traffic saying, "233 S. Wacker, caller states they got a call from the 50th floor saying they received a text message and there was an active shooter on that floor."

Responding officers were seen with rifles in hand.

FOX 32 Chicago spoke to three men who were among 40 people on the 45th floor. They all piled inside a meeting room. They were inside for about 30 minutes, standing mostly silent — until an all clear was given.

"We really just closed the door, tried to barricade space with a table and put chairs on top of it. Everyone was pretty flustered."

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According to police scanner traffic, an officer said, "The men’s and women’s bathroom on the 50th floor….they found about 30 employees that barricaded themselves inside."

Police and SWAT units were seen going floor to floor.

Three floors were evacuated. Chicago police eventually said the report of a shooter was unfounded.

With more than 300 mass shootings in the U.S this year alone, including seven killed in Highland Park just recently, Police Supt. David Brown says they’re taking every precaution necessary.

"We take all of these threats serious until we are able to debunk them," Brown said.