The White House faced a brief lockdown as US Secret Service officers shot an armed individual near the National Mall. The incident occurred after a confrontation where the suspect opened fire. The episode unfolded around 3:30 p.m. when plainclothes Secret Service personnel spotted a suspicious individual with a firearm.
Uniformed officers were called to engage the suspect who fled briefly on foot and then fired towards the agents. In response, the officers returned fire, hitting the individual. The suspect was subsequently taken to a hospital, with no official comments on their condition provided.
During the exchange, a bystander, described as a juvenile, was also struck. Fortunately, the child’s injuries were not life-threatening, and they were receiving medical treatment. Officials suggested that the bystander was likely hit by the suspect’s gunfire.
The shooting incident took place near 15th Street and Independence Avenue, a few blocks away from the White House. Secret Service agents had been monitoring the suspect after detecting signs of a firearm. Following the gunfire, reporters on the White House North Lawn were instructed to move indoors, but the lockdown was swiftly lifted.
President Donald Trump, although not directly addressing the shooting, emphasized the safety of Washington, DC, during a small business event. Authorities indicated that there was no immediate indication of the suspect targeting the president or the White House. The Secret Service confirmed the recovery of a weapon at the scene, with the Metropolitan Police Department leading the investigation.
The incident adds to security concerns in Washington, following a previous shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in April. During that incident, a suspect armed with guns and knives breached security, injuring a Secret Service agent.
