A shooting involving US Secret Service personnel near the National Mall prompted a brief lockdown of the White House on Monday afternoon after an armed confrontation left multiple people injured, according to law enforcement officials.
US Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn said the incident took place shortly after a motorcade carrying US Vice President JD Vance had passed through the area. He stated that the vice president was not believed to be an intended target and cautioned against speculation regarding any connection to recent threats involving former president Donald Trump.
“I’m not going to guess on that,” Quinn said. “Whether or not it was directed to the president or not, I don’t know, but we will find out.”
According to Quinn, Secret Service agents identified a “suspicious individual” believed to be armed. When approached, the individual fled on foot, then allegedly produced a firearm and opened fire. Agents returned fire, striking the suspect, who was transported to hospital. His condition has not been disclosed.
Authorities also confirmed that a juvenile bystander sustained minor injuries during the exchange.
In a separate statement, the US Secret Service said its personnel responded to an officer-involved shooting at 15th Street and Independence Avenue in Washington, describing it as a confrontation between an armed individual and Secret Service police officers.
“One individual was shot by law enforcement; their condition is currently unknown,” the agency said in a post on X.
The White House was placed under temporary lockdown during the incident as a precautionary measure.
The Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia confirmed that officers were also deployed to the scene. Authorities later said the area was secured, though several roads remained closed for hours while investigations continued.
“The scene is secure. Avoid the area as roads will be closed for several hours,” police said.
Officials also noted that federal law enforcement had been operating under heightened alert in recent days following a separate shooting incident linked to a White House Correspondents’ Association event last month, in which a suspect has already been arrested.