The White House was briefly placed under lockdown Saturday evening after reports of shots fired near the grounds, outside the premises.
The D.C. Police Department urged the public to avoid the area, saying U.S. Secret Service officers were “working an incident in the intersection of 17th and Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest.”
The U.S. Secret Service later confirmed an individual pulled a weapon from a bag and began firing shortly after 6 p.m.
Secret Service officers returned fire, killing the suspect, while one bystander was also struck by gunfire, according to a preliminary statement posted by the agency.
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“FBI is on the scene and supporting Secret Service responding to shots fired near grounds — we will update the public as we’re able,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement on X.
The intersection of 17th and Pennsylvania is less than 300 metres from the White House.
On social media, Selina Wang, ABC News’ chief White House correspondent, said she heard what sounded like “dozens of gunshots” while filming on the White House North Lawn.
“I was in the middle of taping on my iPhone for a social video from the White House North Lawn when we heard the shots,” Wang wrote on X. “It sounded like dozens of gunshots. We were told to sprint to the press briefing room where we are holding now.”
U.S. media agencies report there were roughly 20 to 30 shots fired, although exact numbers are yet to be confirmed.
CNN reported two people were shot and wounded, citing an unnamed law enforcement official.
The lockdown comes about a month after the White House correspondents’ dinner, where reporters and Trump administration officials ducked for cover as shots rang out nearby.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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