WASHINGTON – The White House was briefly locked down after a gunfire incident on Monday afternoon, the officials confirmed in a statement.
Reports said an officer of the US Secret Service held an exchange of fire with the armed individuals, whose identity has not been revealed so far.
According to the American media, the armed individual was shot about 3:30 pm at 15th Street SW and Independence Avenue SW near the Washington Monument shortly after the motorcade of Vice President JD Vance passed the location.
“Our plainclothes officers and agents that consistently patrol the outer perimeter of the White House complex identified a suspicious individual that appeared to have a firearm,” Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew C. Quinn said while giving briefing to media.
Law enforcement officers confronted an individual, who attempted to run away on foot and then opened fire on them, according to Quinn. The officers returned fire, hitting the person, who was subsequently transported to a hospital.
During the exchange, a nearby minor was also struck by gunfire but did not suffer life-threatening injuries. Quinn noted that it remains uncertain who the individual was aiming at.
