Authorities reported that a juvenile bystander was taken to hospital after being injured during an exchange of gunfire near the White House on Sunday Officials said the injuries are not life-threatening The incident led to a brief lockdown of the White House complex shortly after Vice President JD Vance had already left the area
According to Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew C Quinn the confrontation occurred near 15th Street and Independence Avenue in Washington DC Secret Service personnel said they encountered an armed suspect which escalated into an officer involved shooting
Officials said the suspect initially fled on foot before allegedly firing at officers who returned fire and struck the individual The suspect was later hospitalized and a weapon was recovered at the scene
Authorities stated there is no indication the White House or the vice president’s motorcade was specifically targeted and investigations remain ongoing
The shooting comes days after a separate security incident involving Cole Tomas Allen a 31 year old California man accused in federal court filings of attempting to breach security at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner while President Donald Trump was present
Prosecutors allege Allen carried multiple weapons and tried to force entry toward a restricted area before being stopped by security personnel In court Assistant US Attorney Jocelyn Ballantine described the conduct as an attempted assassination of the president and prosecutors have requested continued detention
Officials emphasized that incidents near high security government sites are treated with urgency noting continued concerns about threats in Washington and the importance of rapid response protocols
Law enforcement agencies continue to investigate both incidents reviewing evidence surveillance footage and witness statements to determine the sequence of events Officials said security around federal buildings remains under heightened alert as authorities assess potential risks and reinforce coordination between federal and local agencies in Washington there
