Two individuals sustained injuries after being shot by US Secret Service agents in close proximity to the White House, which experienced a brief lockdown due to the gunfire in the vicinity this morning.
An official from law enforcement shared with CNN that the Secret Service’s uniformed division officers responded to reports of a person discharging a firearm, leading to the incident.
President Trump, who was present at the White House, witnessed the premises being temporarily secured.
According to CNN, the lockdown has since been lifted.
ABC US reporter Selina Wang took to X to recount her experience, saying, “I was in the midst of recording a social video on my iPhone from the White House North Lawn when the shots rang out.”
She added, “It sounded like dozens of gunshots. We were instructed to run to the press briefing room, where we are currently waiting.”
A Secret Service official told CNN that the agency was investigating reports of shots fired at the corner of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, which is just outside the White House complex.
Secret Service agents carrying rifles could be seen moving through the North Lawn area following the incident and blocking the White House press briefing room.
The Secret Service said it was “aware of reports of shots fired near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW” â one block from the White House â and was “working to corroborate the information with personnel on the ground”.
In a social media post, FBI Director Kash Patel said officers were responding to shots fired and said he would “update the public as we’re able.”
The lockdown comes a month after the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where reporters and Trump administration officials ducked for cover as shots rang out.
The suspect in that shooting, Cole Tomas Allen, sprinted through a security checkpoint with a shotgun in hand, exchanging fire with Secret Service agents who chased behind him, according to security footage.
He has pleaded not guilty to attempting to assassinate Trump and to other charges.
â with CNN and Associated Press
