The White House was briefly placed on lockdown Monday afternoon as the U.S. Secret Service shot a man who was armed with a gun near the complex as President Donald Trump was holding a Small Business Summit inside the building.
“U.S. Secret Service personnel are on the scene of an officer-involved shooting at 15th Street and Independence Avenue in Washington, D.C.,” the agency announced on X.
“One individual was shot by law enforcement; their condition is currently unknown. Please avoid the area as emergency crews are responding.”
U.S. Secret Service personnel are on the scene of an officer-involved shooting at 15th Street and Independence Avenue in Washington, D.C. One individual was shot by law enforcement; their condition is currently unknown. Please avoid the area as emergency crews are responding. pic.twitter.com/LNUTL2F3gM
— U.S. Secret Service Office of Communications (@SecretSvcSpox) May 4, 2026
The location is slightly over a half mile from the White House and close to the Washington Monument.
Matt Quinn, deputy director of the Secret Service, said the incident took place about 3:30 p.m.
He explained upon officers making contact with a suspicious individual, “that individual fled briefly on foot, withdrew a firearm and fired in the direction of our agents and officers. They returned fire and engaged. That individual was hit. He has since been transported to the hospital.”
“We believe only one bystander was hit by the suspect. That individual is a juvenile, did not sustain any life-threatening injuries but he’s also receiving treatment at the hospital.”
Quinn added that Vice President JD Vance had traveled through the scene before gunfire erupted.
“Not long before this shooting occurred, the vice president’s motorcade did transit through this area.”
When asked why officers thought the individual was suspicious, he indicated officers observed a “visual print of a firearm.”
“These are trained surveillance-detection personnel out there looking every day to look for just that,” Quinn said. “Not far from the White House complex and they observed the visual point of a firearm.”
WATCH:
WATCH LIVE: Officials speak after armed individual shot near White House https://t.co/mIEi40RBP5
— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 4, 2026
Regarding the possibility of President Trump himself being targeted, Quinn said: “We’re patrolling this area and every site we do 24/7, hardcore. Whether or not it was directed to the president … I don’t know but we will find out.”
The incident comes on the heels of the foiled assassination attempt of Trump and top government officials at the White House Correspondents Dinner on April 25 at the Hilton hotel in Washington, D.C.
As WorldNetDaily reported, a federal judge on Monday apologized to that shooting suspect, Cole Allen, for his prison conditions.
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said: “This is happening far too often. Praying for President Trump’s safety today and every day.”
This is happening far too often. Praying for President Trump’s safety today and every day. https://t.co/leAO9uIMA2
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) May 4, 2026
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