Man Arrested Following Shooting Near the White House
A man has been taken into custody in relation to a shooting incident that occurred Monday on the National Mall, prompting a lockdown at the White House. This was confirmed in a federal criminal complaint.
The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Michael Marx, was first noticed by undercover officers who believed he was armed around 3:30 PM. When uniformed police approached him, he fled and allegedly discharged his weapon.
Witnesses reported that Marx shouted phrases like, “Fuck the White House” and “Kill it, kill it, kill it.”
During the altercation, Marx was shot and apprehended, while a bystander—a young boy—was tragically shot and killed.
According to investigators, Vice President J.D. Vance’s motorcade had just passed through the area moments before the shooting took place.
The bystander was described as a civilian who suffered a leg injury while standing behind a police officer. Police returned fire, hitting Marx multiple times.
He reportedly continued to yell slogans against the White House while being transported to the hospital. A firearm, a Sig Sauer P365, was later retrieved from the scene, and investigators noted that Marx did not possess a permit to carry a handgun in Washington, D.C.
Security footage captured the moment he fired at the police, and the injured bystander is expected to recover from non-life-threatening injuries.
Law enforcement is looking into Marx’s digital devices and social media to uncover a potential motive for the incident, which was mentioned during a press conference on Monday.
Marx faces one count of assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, one count of using and discharging a firearm during a violent crime, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.
“We’re not sure if his actions were aimed at the president, but we intend to find out,” stated Matthew Quinn, the Secret Service’s deputy director.
Marx also allegedly provided false identities to officers, using names like Patrick Michael and Michael Zavisi.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro commented on the incident, emphasizing the seriousness of bringing illegal firearms into such a sensitive area and the need for rigorous prosecution against gun violence, especially when it endangers innocent lives near government officials.
