Washington — In a dramatic turn of events on Wednesday, the Justice Department brought serious charges against a Texas man accused of opening fire on a Secret Service agent, an action that led to the injury of a bystander on the National Mall. This incident has raised alarms about security in one of the nation’s busiest tourist areas.
Michael Marx, aged 45 and hailing from Midland, Texas, now faces a host of charges. These include assaulting federal officers with a dangerous weapon, employing and discharging a firearm during a violent crime, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. These charges underscore the gravity of the events that unfolded.
The alarming episode occurred on May 4, close to the iconic Washington Monument. As Vice President JD Vance’s motorcade was making its way from the White House, moving through the bustling area of 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW, the incident unfolded amidst a throng of tourists.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro issued a strong statement, emphasizing the severity of the situation: “We will prove this defendant carried an illegal firearm into the heart of Washington, D.C., opened fire at Secret Service officers near a crowded intersection, and shot an innocent bystander who was simply crossing the street with his family.” Her words highlight the potential dangers posed by such actions in public spaces.
Details of the incident are further elaborated in an affidavit filed by a Secret Service agent in federal court. According to the document, a plainclothes agent first noticed Marx walking along the sidewalk, seemingly attempting to conceal a firearm on the right side of his body, prompting officers to respond swiftly.
As uniformed officers approached, Marx was among a group of pedestrians at a busy intersection. The affidavit includes still images from surveillance cameras, capturing the moment when three marked Secret Service vehicles arrived at the crosswalk, underscoring the rapid response to the unfolding situation.
Justice Department
The affidavit says that as Secret Service officers approached Marx, he allegedly “reached into his waistband and produced a firearm while running across the street.” Once he crossed the street, the affidavit says, Marx “turned and fired his firearm in the direction” of a Secret Service officer while a civilian witness was behind the officer. That shot hit the unnamed witness in the leg, according to the affidavit.
Justice Department 
The Secret Service officer returned fire, charging documents allege, hitting Marx in the “hand, left arm, and upper abdomen.”
While Marx was being transported to the hospital, the affidavit alleges that he “made a statement to the effect of ‘F**k the White House’ and ‘Kill me, kill me, kill me.’”
The charging document says Marx did not have a license to carry a gun in D.C. and was previously convicted of drug trafficking in Florida in 2011.
There was not a future court appearance listed on public court dockets as of Wednesday afternoon.
