WASHINGTON — A bystander remained in serious but stable condition Sunday after a man approached a Secret Service checkpoint near the White House, pulled a weapon from a bag and opened fire before being fatally shot by officers, officials said.
The shooting unfolded Saturday evening near the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, just blocks from the White House complex, and prompted a temporary lockdown of the executive mansion while law enforcement secured the area. President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time, but officials said he was not harmed or directly impacted by the incident.
According to a preliminary account released by the U.S. Secret Service, the suspect approached a checkpoint shortly after 6 p.m. and began firing at officers. Secret Service personnel returned fire and struck the man, who was later taken to a nearby hospital and died from his injuries.
One bystander was also struck by gunfire during the exchange. Authorities said it was not immediately clear whether that person was hit by the suspect’s initial shots or by bullets fired by officers in response. The bystander was taken for medical treatment and remained in serious but stable condition Sunday, according to officials familiar with the investigation.
No Secret Service agents or officers were injured in the encounter, the agency said. The White House was placed on lockdown as a precaution, but the restriction was lifted once the scene was secured.
The Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service are leading the investigation, with assistance from federal law enforcement officials. The FBI also responded to the scene and is expected to review the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including how the suspect approached the checkpoint and what prompted the confrontation.
Authorities have not publicly identified the suspect, though one law enforcement official told reporters the man was a 21-year-old. Officials have not yet released details about a possible motive, and they have not said whether the suspect had any prior contact with law enforcement or known connection to the White House.
The shooting comes amid heightened security concerns in Washington and follows other recent incidents of gunfire in the vicinity of the White House and the National Mall. The close proximity of the attack to the presidential residence raised immediate alarm and triggered a significant law enforcement response in one of the nation’s most heavily guarded corridors.
Witnesses described a rapid and forceful security response. Officers and emergency personnel moved in quickly as the area near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue was cordoned off. The scene, just a short walk from the White House and near heavily trafficked tourist and diplomatic routes, remained active for hours as investigators gathered evidence and interviewed witnesses.
Officials said the investigation will continue to focus on how the suspect was able to get close to the checkpoint and whether additional security measures may be warranted. In the meantime, the injured bystander’s condition is being closely monitored, and investigators are working to determine the full sequence of events.
The White House did not report any disruption to the president’s activities beyond the temporary security lockdown. Federal authorities said further updates would be released as the investigation progresses.