St. Anthony Hospital in Midtown Oklahoma City placed on lockdown after caller reports planned violence threat

Police and hospital security respond to threat at major Midtown medical campus

SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital’s Midtown Oklahoma City campus was placed on lockdown Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, after a caller made a threat indicating an intent to come to the facility and carry out an act of violence.

Oklahoma City police responded to the hospital complex near 1000 N. Lee Ave. and remained on scene into the evening while hospital security measures were implemented. Police said the incident was not being treated as a bomb threat. As of about 7 p.m. Monday, officers had not located or identified a suspect connected to the call.

What the lockdown meant for patients, visitors and operations

Lockdowns in health care settings are typically used to limit access, protect patients and staff, and give law enforcement and security teams time to assess risk. At St. Anthony’s Midtown campus, the response included securing entrances and monitoring who entered the facility while officers staged around the hospital during the search and follow-up steps.

Hospitals generally aim to keep critical services functioning during security events, including emergency care, while restricting nonessential movement and directing visitors to follow staff instructions. The hospital’s Midtown location is a large tertiary care center with multiple access points, which can complicate perimeter control during a fast-moving response.

Context: Recent threats affecting Oklahoma City hospitals

The lockdown occurred amid a period of heightened concern involving reported threats against Oklahoma City-area hospitals. In a separate incident early Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, Oklahoma City police investigated a bomb threat at St. Anthony’s Hospital and later cleared the scene, describing the threat as a hoax after a sweep of the facility.

Law enforcement agencies nationally have warned that false threats—often designed to trigger large-scale emergency responses—can strain public safety resources and disrupt patient care even when no physical danger materializes.

What’s known and what remains unclear

• The threat prompting the Feb. 16 lockdown was communicated by phone and described by police as an intent to carry out violence.
• Police said it was not a bomb threat.
• Authorities had not publicly released specific details about the nature of the threatened violence by Monday evening.
• As of about 7 p.m. Monday, police had not announced an arrest or suspect identification.

If there is an immediate safety concern, call 911.

The investigation remained active as officers continued efforts to determine the caller’s identity and assess credibility, while the hospital and police managed security around the Midtown campus.