A shooting was reported near the White House on Monday prompting a lockdown in parts and leading to evacuations. The US Secret Service stated “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.”
The DC Police confirmed in a statement “MPD is on scene of this investigation at 15th Street and Independence Ave, SW. The scene is secure. Avoid the area as roads will be closed for several hours. Additional updates to come as information is confirmed.”
Susan Crabtree of RealClearPolitics reported “Secret Service Uniformed Division officers shot a man who they thought might have a gun at the @WhiteHouse this afternoon before President Trump’s press conference. When the @SecretService officers confronted the man, it went sideways, and they ended up shooting him.” She added, “All Secret Service officers are safe — but the man is down and in custody.”
She further added “The suspect, who I’m told was armed, is now recovering at George Washington Hospital from wound(s) inflicted by Secret Service gunfire. The Secret Service has recovered the suspect’s firearm. No Uniformed Division officers were shot or hurt,” citing sources. However, this has not been officially confirmed.
White House: Lockdown, and evaucations after shooting
Newsmax reporter James Rosen said on X “Gunshots fired near the @WhiteHouse complex, at 15th and Independence.”
He added that the Secret Service was putting the press office and other locations under lockdown.
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CNBC photojournalist Megan Cassella added “U.S. Secret Service just evacuated us from our camera position at the White House north lawn. We’re now gathering in the briefing room. No indication as to what’s going on.” She shared a photo of people huddled together.
Al Jazeera reporter Alan Fisher also noted “White House on lock down. Reports of shots fired a few blocks away.” Sharing a photo from the briefing room, he added “Everyone herded into the briefing room as the alert was lifted.”
Meanwhile, NewsNation’s Libbey Dean added “Secret Service directed press off the White House North Lawn into the briefing room minutes before @POTUS arrived at event in East Room.”
After a while the lockdown in the White House was lifted and it was deemed that there was no threat to the President, as per Rosen of Newsmax.
Washington DC shooting: First videos emerge
An independent local news page on X noted that a shooting had taken place at 15th Street and Madison Drive NW, which ‘intersects near the White House.’
A person shared a video from the scene.
Videos from inside the White House were shared as well. “Journalists were brought into the briefing room at the White House after reports of gunfire heard in streets surrounding the White House,” one wrote sharing a clip of reporters in the briefing room.
The news of the shooting near the White House, involving law enforcement personnel comes soon after the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner event where President Trump was present along with several high ranking members of his administration. Cole Tomas Allen was identified as the shooter in the event and was apprehended before he could inflict any damage. However, a Secret Service agent was reportedly injured in the attack.
Official details about the person shot today near the White House remain unknown for now.
