Washington, United States. The U.S. Secret Service said its officers confronted an armed and “suspicious individual” near the White House who fired at them and was later shot by law enforcement. The incident prompted a brief lockdown at the White House.
Confrontation near White House perimeter
Secret Service agents patrolling the outer perimeter of the White House complex identified a person that Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn described as a “suspicious individual that appeared to have a firearm.” Quinn said agents observed a “visual print of a firearm” in assessing the individual’s behavior.
Quinn said the suspect briefly fled on foot after being approached by Secret Service officers and fired in their direction. Secret Service then fired at the suspect, who was hit and subsequently hospitalized, Quinn said.
Quinn said the suspect was not on White House property.
Motorcade and bystander injury
Vice President JD Vance’s motorcade passed through the area “not long before” the incident, Quinn said. He said there was no indication the suspect intended to approach Vance’s motorcade.
A juvenile bystander was hit by the suspect, did not suffer life-threatening injuries, and was being treated at a hospital, Quinn said.
Heightened alert in Washington
Law enforcement have been on alert in recent days in the U.S. capital following a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner late last month, for which a man has been arrested.
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