White House Lockdown After Shooting, 2 Injured When Secret Service Opens Fire: Was Trump Inside Building? What we know | Today’s news
White House shooting: A shooting near the White House on Saturday night sent Secret Service agents into tactical response mode, injuring two people and forcing reporters on the North Lawn to sprint for cover, according to four law enforcement officials briefed on the matter. The lockdown lasted roughly 40 minutes before being lifted just after 6:45 p.m. ET.
Two shot near the White House, one bystander and one suspect
Two people are in critical condition after being shot in a standoff with the Secret Service near the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street Northwest, a law enforcement official confirmed. One of those shot is believed to be a bystander; the other is a suspect, the official said. Investigators have recovered a handgun they believe belongs to the suspect.
One person is in serious condition, said four police officers who were briefed on the matter. It was not immediately clear at the time of initial reports whether the other injured person was also a suspect or a bystander.
The Secret Service engaged the suspect and opened fire
The Uniformed Division of the Secret Service responded to a report of a person firing a weapon near the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street Northwest. Two senior officials briefed on the matter said the investigation showed the Secret Service engaged the suspect and fired at him. At this early stage, it does not appear that the Secret Service agents were injured, these officials said.
The Secret Service on X said the agency was investigating reports of shots fired at the corner of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, which is just outside the White House complex, adding that it was “working to confirm the information with personnel on the scene.”
Reporters on the north lawn were herded inside when shots rang out
An NBC News team at the White House heard 20 to 30 gunshots around 6:04 p.m., and Secret Service agents urged reporters gathered outside on the North Lawn to run into the press conference room.
CNN reporters also heard what appeared to be dozens of gunshots near the White House, prompting a lockdown and a rapid response by the Secret Service.
Inside the White House, reporters were told to take cover while Secret Service agents shouted “get down” and warned of “gunshots.” Agents carrying rifles moved around the North Lawn area after the incident, blocking off the White House press conference room.
ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Selina Wang posted a video on X showing the moment the apparent shots rang out and she took cover. “I was in the middle of filming on my iPhone for a social video from the White House North Lawn when we heard gunshots. It sounded like dozens of shots. We were told to run to the press conference room where we are now,” she wrote.
Trump was inside the White House residence during the incident
President Donald Trump was in the White House residence at the time of the shooting. Vice President JD Vance was confirmed to have been at the White House earlier in the day, although it was unclear if he remained on the premises at the time of the incident.
FBI Director Kash Patel told X that the agency “is on the ground supporting the Secret Service in response to shots fired near the White House compound,” adding, “We will keep the public informed as we can.”
The lockdown was lifted at 6:46 PM ET. The US Capitol Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Second shooting near the White House in less than a month
Saturday’s incident came less than a month after a separate shooting disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where reporters and Trump administration officials also took cover when shots rang out. The suspect in the previous incident, Cole Tomas Allen, ran through security with a shotgun in hand and exchanged gunfire with Secret Service agents who were chasing him, according to security records. Allen has pleaded not guilty to the attempted assassination of Trump and other charges related to the incident.
The circumstances of Saturday’s shooting remain under active investigation.
This is a developing story. Please check for updates.
