Secret Service Officers Exchange Gunfire with Armed Suspect Near White House; Juvenile Bystander Injured
A shooting near the White House on May 4 resulted in injuries to an armed suspect and a juvenile bystander, with Secret Service officers involved in the exchange of gunfire.
On May 4, 2026, at approximately 3:30 p.m., U.S. Secret Service officers engaged in a shooting incident near the Washington Monument, close to the White House. Plainclothes agents identified a man displaying a firearm and alerted uniformed officers. When approached, the suspect attempted to flee and fired at the officers, who returned fire, striking the suspect. The individual was transported to a local hospital; his condition remains unknown.
During the exchange, a juvenile bystander sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was also hospitalized. No Secret Service personnel were harmed in the incident.
The shooting prompted a brief lockdown of the White House complex. President Donald Trump was present at the time, attending a small business event, which proceeded without interruption. Vice President J.D. Vance's motorcade had passed through the area shortly before the incident.
Authorities are investigating the suspect's motives and any potential connections to the White House. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, stated, "This remains an active investigation. We will provide more information when it becomes appropriate to do so."