A man armed with a firearm was shot by US Secret Service (USSS) agents in downtown Washington on May 4, triggering a brief security lockdown near the White House, officials confirmed.
USSS Deputy Director Matthew Quinn said the incident occurred close to the National Mall shortly after a motorcade carrying US Vice-President JD Vance had passed through the area.
Quinn said there was no indication at this stage that the vice-president was the intended target, adding that investigators were not ruling anything out, including whether the incident could be linked to recent threats involving President Donald Trump.
“I’m not going to speculate on that. Whether it was directed at the president or not, I don’t know, but we will find out,” he told reporters.
According to Quinn, Secret Service agents had identified a “suspicious individual” believed to be carrying a firearm. When officers approached the suspect, he fled on foot before allegedly drawing his weapon and opening fire.
Agents returned fire, striking and injuring the suspect. He was later taken to hospital, although his condition has not been disclosed.
Authorities also confirmed that a bystander, believed to be a juvenile, sustained minor injuries during the exchange of gunfire.
The incident led to a temporary lockdown in the vicinity of the White House as security forces secured the area and assessed potential threats.
Officials noted that the shooting comes just over a week after another security scare involving an armed man attempting to breach a Washington hotel where President Trump was present. The suspect in that case has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president.
