Secret Service Shoots Armed Suspect Near White House After Exchange of Gunfire

U.S. Secret Service officers engaged in a shootout with an armed suspect near the White House on Monday afternoon, resulting in the suspect being wounded and hospitalized. The incident prompted a brief lockdown of the White House complex, with journalists ushered indoors for safety.

President Trump, who was inside the White House attending an event, continued without interruption. m. when agents patrolling the outer perimeter spotted a suspicious individual appearing to carry a firearm. According to Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn, the man fled on foot after being approached and then opened fire on officers at the intersection of 15th Street SW and Independence Avenue SW, close to the Washington Monument.

Officers returned fire, striking the suspect, who was subsequently taken to a hospital. His condition remains unknown. A juvenile bystander was also hit by gunfire from the suspect but sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is receiving treatment.

Quinn stated that agents had observed a "visual print of a firearm" based on the individual's behavior, prompting the initial approach. The suspect was not on White House property, and a weapon was recovered at the scene. The D.C. Police Department is leading the investigation.

Vice President JD Vance's motorcade had transited through the area not long before the incident, but Quinn emphasized there was no indication the suspect intended to target it. >"Whether or not it was directed to the president or not, I don’t know, but we will find out," — Matthew Quinn, Secret Service Deputy Director, May 4, 2026 (The Sydney Morning Herald).

The shooting occurred just over a week after an attempted breach at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on April 25, where President Trump was present. In that incident, Cole Tomas Allen allegedly tried to storm the event with guns and knives, shooting a Secret Service officer who was wearing body armor and not seriously injured.

Allen has been charged. Quinn was asked about potential links to other recent attempts on Trump's life but did not confirm any connection. The earlier event also involved gunfire, though details differ from Monday's confrontation. Multiple sources, including Reuters and AP, confirmed the sequence of events, with no contradictions reported on the core facts.

Fox News noted the suspect pulled a gun after reports of shots fired.

The incident drew a large police presence in the area, highlighting ongoing security challenges around the White House. It unfolded in a public space near major landmarks, but no further threats were reported after the suspect was apprehended. Eyewitness accounts from various outlets described the rapid response by law enforcement, with the suspect subdued quickly after the exchange.

The White House lockdown was lifted shortly after, restoring normal operations. This event adds to a series of security incidents in recent months, though sources agree Monday's shooting appears isolated based on current information.