Incident Near the White House
On Monday, U.S. Secret Service agents shot and killed an armed individual near the White House, as reported by a federal source knowledgeable about the situation.
The shooting took place at the intersection of 15th Street and Independence Avenue, which is over half a mile away from the White House and not far from the Washington Monument.
According to federal sources, the Secret Service Uniformed Division agents confronted the man after he brandished a firearm.
Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn mentioned at a press conference that during the incident, a bystander, a young boy, was accidentally struck by the suspect. Thankfully, his injuries were not life-threatening, and he’s currently receiving care at a hospital.
Quinn explained that the confrontation began when a trained observer noted “visible signs” of a weapon. He elaborated, saying, “My understanding is that they examined the print. Our surveillance team is always on the lookout for such things… and they spotted evidence of a firearm.”
He continued, “Upon contact, the individual briefly fled, then drew a weapon and fired at the agents. They responded accordingly.”
Interestingly, Quinn confirmed that Vice President J.D. Vance’s motorcade had recently passed through the area, but he clarified this was unrelated to the shooting.
When questioned if the suspect was targeting President Trump, especially after the recent incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Quinn opted not to speculate. “I can’t say that. I’m not going to speculate,” he said. “But I can assure you, we patrol this area consistently—24/7, all year round. It’s uncertain if this was aimed at the president, but we’ll find out.”
Officials stated that the suspect is believed to be alive and has been taken to a hospital for treatment. The situation was quickly brought under control, with no immediate indications of a wider threat.
The Secret Service later posted on social media that one individual was shot and killed by law enforcement. The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating the incident, and the area has been secured.
Authorities have advised the public to steer clear of the location, as road closures are anticipated to last several hours.
