WASHINGTON — An individual who opened fire at Secret Service officers near a White House security checkpoint has died following a shootout with federal agents, authorities confirmed.
According to the U.S. Secret Service, initial findings show the individual came to a checkpoint around 6 p.m. ET Saturday, “pulled a weapon from his bag and began firing at posted officers.”
Federal agents fired back, striking the gunman, who was rushed to a local medical facility where he was later pronounced dead, the Secret Service reported.
An innocent bystander sustained injuries during the incident, though law enforcement officials remain uncertain whether the wounds came from the initial gunfire by the suspect or from rounds fired by responding officers.
The Secret Service confirmed none of their personnel were harmed in the exchange, and President Donald Trump — who was present at the White House during the shooting — remained “unaffected.”
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Earlier reporting follows below.
WASHINGTON — Federal agents shot an individual in the vicinity of the White House on Saturday, with a bystander also sustaining gunshot wounds, according to a law enforcement source.
Both victims were reported in critical condition, the source revealed while requesting anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak about the ongoing investigation.
White House press corps members on duty Saturday heard multiple gunshots and received instructions to take cover in the press briefing room.
The Secret Service posted on X that they were “aware of reports of shots fired near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW” — located one block from the White House — and were “working to corroborate the information with personnel on the ground.” They promised an update would follow.
FBI Director Kash Patel posted on social media that officers were responding to reports of gunfire and promised to “update the public as we’re able.”
President Donald Trump remained inside the White House throughout the incident.
Physical evidence of the shooting remained visible on sidewalks adjacent to the White House grounds, with yellow police tape stretching across walkways and Secret Service personnel marking dozens of spots with orange evidence markers. Emergency medical supplies, including what looked like purple medical gloves and standard paramedic equipment, were scattered at the scene.
ABC News senior White House correspondent Selina Wang captured dramatic footage on X showing the moment she heard what “sounded like dozens of gunshots” and took cover. Wang had been recording a routine social media update about Trump’s earlier Saturday comments regarding a potential Iran deal when the gunfire erupted.
The video shows Wang speaking briefly before the sound of gunshots causes her to widen her eyes and duck down in the media tent positioned along the White House driveway where news crews conduct their broadcasts. Wang’s footage had been shared thousands of times and viewed over 3 million times by Saturday evening.
The Metropolitan Police Department advised on X that the Secret Service was handling the scene and urged the public to stay away from the area. The location is close to where a shooter attacked two West Virginia National Guard members last November.
U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, succumbed to her injuries in that attack. Andrew Wolfe, then 24, suffered critical wounds. Rahmanullah Lakanwal faces charges in connection with that shooting.
Saturday’s gunfire occurred roughly one month following what authorities described as an assassination attempt against the president on April 25 during his appearance at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner at a Washington hotel. Cole Tomas Allen, of Torrance, California, recently entered a not guilty plea to charges of attempting to kill Trump and remains in federal detention.
After that incident, Secret Service agents shot a suspect who they said had opened fire on officers near the Washington Monument, also in the White House vicinity. Michael Marx, 45, of Midland, Texas, was charged in federal court in connection with the May 4 shooting. A teenage bystander suffered wounds in that incident.
