Washington, May 24 : A person who approached a White House security checkpoint and opened fire at officers has died, federal officials said Saturday.
According to a preliminary Secret Service investigation, the individual approached a checkpoint shortly after 6 pm ET, removed a weapon from a bag and began shooting at posted officers. Officers returned fire, striking the suspect, who was taken to a nearby hospital and later died, the Secret Service said. None of its officers were injured, and President Donald Trump — who was at the White House at the time — was not impacted, authorities added.
A bystander was also hit; officials have not yet determined whether that person was struck by the suspect’s rounds or by gunfire from officers. Journalists working near the White House reported hearing multiple shots and were instructed to shelter inside the press briefing room.
Secret Service first alerted the public on X that it was “aware of reports of shots fired near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW,” about one block from the White House, and was verifying information with on-scene personnel. Evidence markers and crime scene tape were visible on a sidewalk just outside the White House complex, along with medical materials used by emergency responders.
ABC News correspondent Selina Wang shared video on X showing reporters ducking for cover as what she described as dozens of gunshots rang out; her clip was widely shared and viewed millions of times. The Metropolitan Police Department advised the public to avoid the area while the Secret Service worked the scene.
Saturday’s shooting follows several recent security incidents near the White House. Last November, a gunman ambushed two members of the West Virginia National Guard; Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, later died and another guard member was critically wounded. The suspect in that case, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, has been charged.
Nearly a month ago, authorities said a man attempted to assassinate the president at a Washington hotel event; the suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, pleaded not guilty and remains in federal custody. In early May, Secret Service officers shot a suspect near the Washington Monument; that suspect, Michael Marx, 45, was charged in connection with that incident, which also wounded a teenage bystander.
