- A man has been shot dead by US Secret Service officers after opening fire on a security checkpoint near the White House, with a bystander wounded in the gunfire.
- Shortly after 6pm on Saturday (22:00 GMT), the suspect approached a Secret Service checkpoint, pulled a weapon from his bag, and began shooting at officers.
- The Secret Service confirmed that the suspect had concealed his weapon in a bag before drawing it at the checkpoint.
- The agents returned fire, striking the suspect, who was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
- A bystander was also hit during the shooting, though it remains unclear whether they were struck by the suspect’s initial gunfire or during the exchange that followed.
- The White House was immediately placed under lockdown.
- Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin said he was closely monitoring the situation and would issue a statement soon.
- More than 30 shots were heard from the White House North Lawn, according to Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett.
- The suspect had recently been issued a stay-away order, which he had ignored.
- FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that his agency was on the scene supporting the Secret Service.
- The identity of the suspect and his motive have not been publicly released.
- The shooting at the White House Saturday evening is just the latest act of political violence carried out in orbit in recent weeks.
- The string of shootings in proximity to the White House follows two previous assassination attempts against the president.
- Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., remarked, ‘Let me be clear’ what we are witnessing is a pattern of violence directed at the President and at members of the press simply for doing their jobs.
- Trump stated that the shooting was another sign the White House needed a safe and secure space, with specific reference to the ballroom he is for.
A gunman approached a Secret Service checkpoint near the White House on Saturday evening and began shooting, injuring a bystander. The agents quickly responded, firing back and striking the suspect, who later died at a hospital.2
Shortly before 6pm, the suspect arrived at the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, drew a concealed weapon from his bag, and opened fire.
More than 30 shots were heard from the White House North Lawn, according to Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett, who reported that the suspect had a recent stay-away order.89
The incident triggered a lockdown of the White House, escalating fears of rising political violence, exacerbated by a recent trend of threats against lawmakers. In 2025, threats against lawmakers reached nearly 15,000, according to the U.S. Capitol Police.
Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin stated he was monitoring the situation closely, while FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the FBI was on site to support the Secret Service.10
Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., emphasized, “Let me be clear — what we are witnessing is a pattern of violence directed at the President and at members of the press simply for doing their jobs.”
The suspect’s identity and motive remain unknown while authorities continue their investigation.
“A gunman was shot dead by U.S. Secret Service officers after firing at a checkpoint near the White House, injuring a bystander. This incident is part of a troubling pattern of political violence directed against individuals in protective roles.”
