WHITE HOUSE BRIEFLY LOCKED DOWN AFTER GUNMAN OPENS FIRE NEAR SECURITY CHECKPOINT, SUSPECT KILLED BY SECRET SERVICE
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By: Muftau Fatimo
The White House was briefly placed on lockdown on Saturday after multiple reporters heard a series of gunshots near the premises.
In a statement, the US Secret Service said a man approached a security checkpoint near the White House gate at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW shortly after 6 p.m. local time, pulled out a pistol and opened fire.
The agency said Secret Service personnel responded by returning fire, hitting the suspect, who was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
A bystander was also struck during the incident. According to the Secret Service, it remains unclear whether the individual was hit by the suspect’s initial shots or during the exchange of gunfire.
The agency confirmed that no Secret Service officers were injured, adding that the US President was inside the White House at the time but was not affected by the incident.
Earlier, Selina Wang, a White House correspondent for ABC News, shared video on social media of the sound of gunfire interrupting her as she recorded a report on US negotiations with Iran. In the clip, Wang could be seen diving to take cover as what “sounded like dozens of gunshots” rang out.
“We were told to sprint to the press briefing room, where we are holding now,” Wang added.
The FBI director, Kash Patel, posted: “FBI is on the scene and supporting Secret Service responding to shots fired near White House grounds – we will update the public as we’re able.”
Donald Trump said earlier that he was in the Oval Office but did not immediately comment on the reported gunfire.
Chris Flanagan, an anchor for the local news channel DC News Now who took cover in the White House briefing room, reported that about 30 shots were fired, but that the security lockdown had been lifted.
A CBS News producer estimated that no fewer than 20 gunshots were fired during the incident, while the Secret Service said in a statement issued around 6:45 p.m. local time that it was “aware of reports of shots fired near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW” and was working to verify the situation with officers at the scene.
The latest shooting occurred less than three weeks after another security incident near the White House involving a man reportedly armed with a gun who opened fire at a Secret Service officer along the route of Vice President JD Vance’s motorcade. The Department of Justice said a civilian standing behind the officer sustained a leg injury, while officers returned fire, wounding the suspect in the hand, left arm and upper abdomen.
Saturday’s gunfire also came nearly a month after what authorities described as an attempted assassination plot against the US president during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner held at a hotel in Washington on April 25.
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