Misryoum reports officers confronted a suspected armed person near the White House. The suspect fired, was shot, and was hospitalized.
Gunfire broke out near the White House after Secret Service officers confronted a man they believed to be armed and behaving suspiciously, according to Misryoum.
The Secret Service said its agents spotted the individual near the outer perimeter, and Deputy Director Matthew Quinn described the person as suspicious and appearing to have a firearm.. Officers approached, the suspect briefly ran on foot, and he fired in the direction of the agents before fleeing, Misryoum reported.
After the shots, Secret Service agents returned fire, hitting the suspect, who was taken to a hospital, Quinn said. Misryoum added that the incident triggered a brief lockdown at the White House.
This sequence matters because it underscores how quickly security protocols can tighten around the U.S. executive residence when an armed threat is suspected.
Quinn also said the Vice President’s motorcade had passed through the area shortly before the confrontation. He said there was no indication the suspect intended to approach the motorcade.
Misryoum reported that a juvenile bystander was hit by the suspect’s gunfire, but Quinn said the injuries were not life-threatening and the child was being treated at a hospital.
Agents described observing a “visual print of a firearm” when evaluating the person’s behavior as suspicious, according to Misryoum. Quinn added that the suspect was not on White House property.
Meanwhile, law enforcement has been on heightened alert in the capital in recent days, Misryoum said, following an earlier shooting involving the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.. Quinn was asked whether Monday’s incident was linked to other recent attempts on President Donald Trump’s life, and he said the details would be determined.
The Secret Service confirmed a weapon was recovered from the suspect but did not provide further detail. Misryoum noted that the DC Police Department is handling the investigation.
Ultimately, incidents like this can quickly ripple into public reassurance and operational decisions, even when the suspect’s target is unclear in the moment.