White House lockdown: Man dead after gunshot near North Lawn

The Secret Service tweeted on Saturday that they were responding to the incident which occurred at the North Lawn at around noon. Photo / Fox News

An armed man is dead after a gunshot was heard near the White House early today (NZT).

"The adult male who reportedly shot himself has been declared dead. His body remained on scene. We're working to notify next of kin," a Washington DC police department spokesperson told USA TODAY.

The shooting happened at around noon on Saturday (6am, NZT) and sparked panic inside as staff were told to shelter in place.

MORE: Reports of shots fired near White House North Lawn. President Trump is not at the White House, he is at Mar-a-Lago https://t.co/xVqLfJ1YTj pic.twitter.com/Ci3z4p9sBo

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 3, 2018

Political journalists sheltered in the briefing room and tweeted first about the breach.

Not long afterwards, the Secret Service said it was a person who had shot themselves.

President Donald Trump is at Mar-a-Lago for the weekend with the First Lady Melania Trump and their son Barron.

DC police say there is not thought to be any outstanding threat. Some streets around the White House were cordoned off and officers armed with rifles patrolled the area.

BREAKING: Secret Service personnel are responding to reports of a person who allegedly suffered a self-inflicted gun shot wound along the north fence line of @WhiteHouse.

— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) March 3, 2018

Media which were in place there tweeted that they were being told to shelter until further notice, according to the Daily Mail.

NBC's White House correspondent Geoff Bennett tweeted first about the incident

"We're sheltering in place at the White House briefing room. A report of 'shots fired' near North Lawn, per a U.S. Secret Service agent.

"Trying to learn more," he said.

Tourists who were in the area shared reports of hearing 'shots fired'. They were unaware if there was any threat to them or anyone else.

Within minutes of the shooting, the Secret Service calmed panic.

UPDATE: No other reported injuries related to the incident at @WhiteHouse.

— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) March 3, 2018

"Secret Service personnel are responding to reports of a person who allegedly suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound along the north fence line of White House.

"No other reported injuries related to the incident," it tweeted.

President Trump is aware of the shooting, according to White House officials.

He spent the morning golfing in Mar-a-Lago and had not long returned to his residence there when news of the shooting emerged.

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