Following a tip-off regarding a potentially suicidal individual, Secret Service agents shot a man who confronted them with a firearm outside the White House. The individual is currently hospitalized, while the Metropolitan Police conduct an investigation into the incident.
Armed Confrontation Leads to Shooting by Secret Service Near White House
Armed Confrontation Leads to Shooting by Secret Service Near White House
An armed man was shot by Secret Service agents after allegedly brandishing a firearm during an encounter outside the White House.
The US Secret Service shot a man outside the White House early Sunday morning following an armed confrontation, according to an official statement. The incident began when local police alerted the Secret Service about a "suicidal individual who may be traveling to Washington DC from Indiana." Officers approached a man matching the description, who allegedly brandished a firearm. In response, shots were fired, resulting in the man's hospitalization, though his condition remains unknown.
President Donald Trump was not at the White House during the crisis, spending the weekend at his Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago. "As officers approached, the individual brandished a firearm and an armed confrontation ensued, during which shots were fired by our personnel,” the Secret Service reported.
The investigation into the shooting has been handed over to the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C., which typically engages in investigating all law-enforcement shootings in the area. The incident adds to ongoing discussions regarding the effectiveness and oversight of the Secret Service, which has been called upon to enhance its management and reduce the number of protectees it oversees.
