Washington (TDI): A shooting involving United States Secret Service personnel near the National Mall in Washington, D.C. triggered a brief lockdown at the White House on Monday afternoon, officials said.
Deputy Director Matthew Quinn said the incident occurred shortly after a motorcade carrying Vice President JD Vance had passed through the area. He added that there was no indication the vice president was the intended target and declined to link the incident to any recent threats involving President Donald Trump, AFP reported.
According to Quinn, agents identified a suspicious individual believed to be armed. When approached, the man fled on foot before allegedly drawing a weapon and opening fire. Secret Service personnel returned fire, striking the suspect, who was later taken to hospital. His condition was not immediately known.
Authorities also confirmed that a juvenile bystander sustained minor injuries during the incident.
In a separate statement, the Secret Service said the shooting took place near 15th Street and Independence Avenue and involved an armed confrontation with its officers. One individual was shot by law enforcement.
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The White House was briefly placed under lockdown as a precaution while security teams responded to the situation.
The DC Police Department said its officers assisted at the scene, confirming that the area had been secured. Roads around the site were closed for several hours as investigations continued, and the public was advised to avoid the area.
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Officials noted that security had already been heightened in recent days following a separate shooting linked to an event associated with the White House Correspondents’ Association late last month, in which a suspect has since been arrested.
