NewKerala.com

US Secret Service Shoots Armed Individual Near White House in DC Incident

The US Secret Service shot an armed individual near the White House on Monday after the suspect pulled a gun and fired at agents. The confrontation occurred at 15th Street and Independence Avenue, just over half a mile from the White House. Deputy Director Matt Quinn confirmed a juvenile bystander was injured but sustained no life-threatening injuries. The suspect was transported to a hospital, and authorities are investigating whether the incident was directed at President Donald Trump.

Key Points: Secret Service Shoots Armed Person Near White House

  • Armed individual shot by Secret Service near White House
  • Suspect fired at agents after brief foot chase
  • Juvenile bystander injured, no life-threatening injuries
  • VP JD Vance's motorcade passed nearby but unrelated
2 min read

US Secret Service confirms shooting near White House, armed man shot

US Secret Service shoots armed individual near White House. Suspect fired at agents; juvenile bystander injured. VP motorcade nearby but unrelated.

"Upon making contact, that individual fled briefly on foot, withdrew a firearm and fired in the direction of our agents and officers. - Deputy Director Matt Quinn"

Washington DC, May 5

The US Secret Service on Monday said it shot an armed individual involved in a shooting incident near White House, warning the public to avoid the area as emergency crew worked the scene.

In a post on X, the agency's Office of Communications stated, "US Secret Service personnel are on the scene of an officer-involved shooting at 15th Street and Independence Avenue in Washington, DC. One individual was shot by law enforcement; their condition is currently unknown. Please avoid the area as emergency crews are responding."

According to Fox News, US Secret Service officers shot an armed individual after a confrontation unfolded near 15th Street and Independence Avenue, just over half a mile from the White House and close to the Washington Monument.

Citing a federal source, Fox News reported that Secret Service Uniformed Division officers engaged the suspect after the individual pulled a gun.

At a press conference, Deputy Director Matt Quinn said a juvenile bystander was injured during the incident. "My understanding is they observed a print," Quinn said. "These are trained surveillance detection personnel out there looking every day to look for just that... and they observed a visual print of a firearm."

He added, "Upon making contact, that individual fled briefly on foot, withdrew a firearm and fired in the direction of our agents and officers. They returned fire and engaged."

Quinn confirmed the child who was struck "did not sustain any life-threatening injuries" and is receiving treatment at a hospital.

He also noted that Vice President JD Vance's motorcade had passed through the area shortly before the shooting but said the two events were not connected.

When asked whether the suspect may have been targeting President Donald Trump, Quinn declined to speculate. "I can't say_I'm not going to guess on that," he said. "I can tell you that every time we're patrolling this area. In every site, we do 24/7, hardcore, whether or not it was directed to the president or not, I don't know. But we will find out."

Fox News further reported that the suspect was believed to be alive and transported to a hospital. Authorities said the situation was quickly contained, with no immediate indication of a broader threat.

The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed it is investigating the incident and that the area has been secured, while urging the public to avoid the vicinity due to expected road closures.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

A
Aditi M
Washington DC is always on high alert, especially so close to the White House. The suspect firing at agents is just reckless. But I wonder—could there have been de-escalation? The article says he fled, then turned and fired. No choice for officers then. It's harsh but security is paramount. In India too, we handle such situations with similar swiftness.
A
Arjun K
The fact that the VP's motorcade passed just before is a close shave. It's good they're transparent about the investigation, but I'm not comfortable with how quickly force was used. The suspect "pulled a gun"—but was he aiming? Kids don't deserve to be caught in crossfire. India has its own issues with stray bullets. My heart goes out to the child.
J
James A
Sitting here in Mumbai, this feels surreal. The White House is like the Indian Rashtrapati Bhavan—security is key. The Secret Service did their duty, I guess. But a juvenile bystander getting hit raises questions. Was there no way to secure the area first? Still, glad the response was quick. Hope the suspect survives to face justice.
P
Priya S
I appreciate the transparency from the Secret Service. The deputy director's briefing was detailed. But shooting an armed individual near kids—what about crowd control? In India, we've seen stampedes at public events. The security protocols here could learn from US, but also the US could learn about crowd management. Let's hope investigations bring clarity.
M
Michael C
From an Indian perspective, it's chilling how close this was to the White House. The

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50