A Shooting Incident Near the White House Leaves Suspect Dead and Bystander Injured
In a dramatic turn of events near the White House, a suspect who opened fire at a security checkpoint was fatally shot by law enforcement officers. The incident, which occurred late Saturday, also resulted in injuries to a bystander, according to federal officials.
The U.S. Secret Service reported that the suspect approached a checkpoint shortly after 6 p.m. ET and brandished a weapon from his bag, targeting the officers on duty. The officers retaliated, hitting the suspect, who was subsequently taken to a local hospital and later succumbed to his injuries.
A bystander was also injured during the exchange of gunfire, although it remains unclear whether the injury resulted from the suspect’s initial shots or those fired by the officers. Fortunately, no Secret Service personnel suffered injuries, and President Donald Trump, who was present at the White House, was unaffected.
Journalists stationed at the White House reported hearing multiple gunshots and were instructed to take cover in the press briefing room. The Secret Service confirmed via social media platform X that they were “aware of reports of shots fired near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW” and were actively verifying the incident with ground personnel. Further updates were promised soon.
ABC News senior correspondent Selina Wang shared a compelling video on X, capturing the moment she heard the gunshots and sought cover. Her video, recorded during a routine task, showed her discussing President Trump’s earlier remarks about a potential Iran deal before the gunfire interrupted her broadcast. The footage quickly went viral, accumulating millions of views by Saturday evening.
In the aftermath, the area around the White House was cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape, while Secret Service officers marked the scene with evidence indicators. Medical supplies, likely used by emergency responders, were visible on the pavement.
This shooting incident follows closely after another high-profile security breach less than a month ago, when an attempted assassination on President Trump occurred during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. In a separate incident on May 4, near the Washington Monument, Secret Service officers shot a suspect who allegedly fired at them, injuring a teenage bystander.
The Metropolitan Police Department has advised the public to steer clear of the affected area, as investigations continue. The location is notably close to where two West Virginia National Guard members were ambushed last November, resulting in one fatality.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
Comments are closed.