WASHINGTON: A gunman who opened fire on Secret Service officers outside the White House on Saturday evening (May 23) has died after being shot, the agency said in a statement.
A person approached the checkpoint at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House, pulled a gun out of his bag and started shooting at officers, according to a Secret Service statement posted on social media.
After the gunman opened fire on agents at a security checkpoint near the White House, “Secret Service police officers returned fire, striking the suspect, who was transported to an area hospital, where he later died,” the statement said.
A bystander was also struck by gunfire, but it was not clear how badly the person was hurt, according to a separate Secret Service statement cited by multiple news outlets. The statement said it was not clear who fired the shot that hit the bystander.
The shooting suspect was identified as an emotionally disturbed person, a law enforcement official told Reuters, adding that a “stay-away order” had been issued to him previously.
No law enforcement personnel were injured, the Secret Service said.
US President Donald Trump was at the White House at the time as he worked to negotiate a deal with Iran.
A law enforcement official told Reuters earlier that the shooting suspect was “down” and taken to George Washington Hospital, adding that a bystander was also shot and that both individuals were said to be in critical condition.
Earlier, the US Secret Service also said it was investigating the incident and FBI Director Kash Patel said his agency was supporting the probe.