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U.S. Secret Service officers shot an armed person Monday near the White House, according to a federal source familiar with the incident.
The shooting happened near 15th Street and Independence Avenue, a little over a half mile from the White House and close to the Washington Monument.
Secret Service Uniformed Division officers engaged the individual after the person pulled a gun, a federal source told Fox News Digital.
In a press conference, Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn said that a juvenile bystander was struck by the suspect. The child who was struck did not sustain any life-threatening injuries, but is receiving treatment at the hospital, Quinn said.
A crime scene technician removes a gun following an exchange of gunfire between the U.S. Secret Service and a gunman on the National Mall on May 4, 2026 in Washington, DC. Police say a gunman shot at a Secret Service agent and wounded a bystander before being shot by police. (Andrew Leyden/Getty Images)
Quinn said the confrontation began after trained surveillance personnel spotted a “visual print” of a weapon.
“My understanding is they observed a print,” Quinn said. “These are trained surveillance detection personnel out there looking every day to look for just that… and they observed a visual print of a firearm.”
“Upon making contact, that individual fled briefly on foot, withdrew a firearm and fired in the direction of our agents and officers,” Quinn said. “They returned fire and engaged.”
A National Guard soldier and U.S. Secret Service officer secure the crime scene following an exchange of gunfire by the U.S. Secret Service and a gunman on the National Mall on May 4, 2026 in Washington, DC. Police say a gunman shot at a Secret Service agent and wounded a bystander before being shot by police. (Andrew Leyden/Getty Images)
Quinn confirmed Vice President JD Vance’s motorcade had driven by the area not long before the shooting, but said it was unrelated.
When asked if the suspect was targeting President Trump in light of the recent attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Quinn said he would not speculate.
“I can’t say—I’m not going to guess on that,” Quinn said. “I can tell you that every time, we’re patrolling this area. In every site, we do 24/7, hardcore, whether or not it was directed to the president or not, I don’t know. But we will find out.”
A U.S. Secret Service officer protects the crime scene following an exchange of gunfire by the U.S. Secret Service and a gunman on the National Mall on May 4, 2026 in Washington, DC. Police say a gunman shot at a Secret Service agent and wounded a bystander before being shot by police. (Andrew Leyden/Getty Images)
The suspect was believed to be alive and taken to a hospital, the source said. The situation appeared to be quickly contained, with no immediate indication of a broader threat, they said.
The Secret Service said in a post on X that one individual was shot by law enforcement. The Metropolitan Police Department said it is on the scene investigating and that the area has been secured.
Crime scene technicians catalog evidence following an exchange of gunfire by the U.S. Secret Service and a gunman on the National Mall on May 4, 2026 in Washington, DC. Police say a gunman shot at a Secret Service agent and wounded a bystander before being shot by police. (Andrew Leyden/Getty Images)
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Authorities urged the public to avoid the area as road closures were expected to last for several hours.
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