White House locked down amid gunfight between Secret Service and armed person

The White House was briefly locked down after a Secret Service agent exchanged gunfire with an unidentified man nearby. Photo / Getty Images

The White House was briefly locked down today NZT after a United States Secret Service officer exchanged gunfire with an armed individual nearby, the agency said.

The person, whose identity was unknown, was shot at about 3.30pm at 15th Street SW and Independence Avenue SW near the Washington Monument.

The incident happened shortly after US Vice-President JD Vance passed by in a motorcade, according to the Secret Service.

Secret Service deputy director Matthew Quinn said at a news conference: “Our plainclothes officers and agents that consistently patrol the outer perimeter of the White House complex identified a suspicious individual that appeared to have a firearm”.

He said uniformed officers approached the individual, who tried to flee on foot before firing at the agents. They fired back, and the person was struck and taken to a hospital.

A bullet from the gunman struck a child who was in the area, but the victim did not sustain life-threatening injuries.

Quinn said it wasn’t clear whom the person may have been targeting.

He said: “We’re patrolling this area, and every site we do, 24/7, hardcore. Whether or not it was directed to the President or not, I don’t know, but we will find out.”

At around 3.45pm, the Secret Service evacuated members of the media from the White House’s north lawn to the briefing room.

Witnesses said about five or six gunshots rang out shortly after Vance had passed by.

Washington DC police said it was investigating the scene of the shooting and that area roads would be closed for several hours.

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