At least two people were shot Saturday evening near the White House after a suspect allegedly opened fire on Secret Service agents, triggering a lockdown of the White House complex and a major law enforcement response in downtown Washington. One of those shot is in grave condition, according to four law enforcement officials briefed on the matter.
The shooting occurred around 6:04 p.m. ET near the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, just outside the White House complex. Secret Service uniformed division officers responded to reports of a person firing a weapon and engaged the suspect, according to two senior officials briefed on the matter. The suspect was shot by agents.
As of Saturday evening, it remained unclear whether the second victim was a bystander or also a suspect, with Fox News reporting a juvenile was struck by the suspect’s gunfire. Officials confirmed there were no injuries to Secret Service agents.
An NBC News team at the White House reported hearing between 20 and 30 gunshots shortly after 6 p.m. CNN reporters similarly described what sounded like “dozens of gunshots” as Secret Service agents immediately rushed members of the press corps from the North Lawn into the White House briefing room, where reporters were ordered to shelter in place as agents shouted warnings about shots fired. Agents carrying rifles were seen moving through the North Lawn, with the briefing room blocked off.
ABC News chief White House correspondent Selina Wang captured the chaotic scene in a post on X, which has since garnered nearly 5 million views.
“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. It sounded like dozens of gunshots. We were told to sprint to the press briefing room where we are holding now.”
The White House lockdown was lifted at approximately 6:46 p.m. ET. President Donald Trump was inside the White House residence throughout the incident. Vice President JD Vance had been confirmed at the White House earlier in the day, though it was unclear whether he remained on the grounds at the time of the shooting.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed on X that the FBI had deployed to the scene in support of the Secret Service response:
The incident comes less than a month after a separate shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where suspect Cole Tomas Allen sprinted through a security checkpoint with a shotgun and exchanged fire with Secret Service agents. Allen has pleaded not guilty to attempting to assassinate Trump. Saturday’s shooting marks the second serious armed incident near the White House in recent weeks.
This is a developing story. Details about the suspect’s identity and motive have not yet been officially confirmed by authorities.
UPDATE 7:25 PM EST: Trump and his team were in the White House in a huddle when the shooting started:
Update 7:30 PM EST: According to Fox News, the suspect is dead
UPDATE: 7:45 PM EST: Secret Service released a statement confirming that the suspect is dead and a bystander was injured.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY