Gunfire erupts near White House as Secret Service kills suspect

US Secret Service officers shot and killed a man after he opened fire on a security checkpoint near the White House. A bystander was also injured during the shooting that occurred shortly after 6 pm on Saturday (22:00 GMT) near the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. According to the Secret Service, the suspect approached the checkpoint carrying a bag, pulled out a firearm, and began shooting at officers stationed there. In an official statement, the agency said early findings suggested the weapon had been concealed inside the bag before the attack began. Officers immediately returned fire, critically wounding the suspect, who was later declared dead at a nearby hospital. Authorities said a bystander was also struck during the chaos, although investigators have not yet determined whether the injury was caused by the suspect’s shots or the exchange of gunfire that followed. Preliminary statement regarding the shooting incident on 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. pic.twitter.com/NOdFKmwVuU — U.S. Secret Service Office of Communications (@SecretSvcSpox) May 24, 2026 US President Donald Trump was inside the White House when the incident took place, but was reported safe and unharmed. The White House complex was placed under lockdown as security teams responded to the scene. No Secret Service officers were injured in the confrontation. US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said he was monitoring developments closely and would release further information later. In a post on X, he said the shooting highlighted the daily risks faced by law enforcement personnel. Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives also confirmed on X that Trump was safe, while the White House had not immediately issued a formal statement regarding the president’s condition. Trump says US-Iran deal ‘largely negotiated’ with Hormuz reopening