Secret Service shoots armed man near White House following confrontation

A gunman was shot outside the White House by Secret Service agents after being spotted with a firearm on Saturday night. 

The suspect, an Indiana man, parked his vehicle near 17th and G Streets and was seen walking with a gun before being confronted. When Secret Service personnel approached him, he brandished his firearm, prompting agents to open fire. He was transported to a nearby hospital with injuries, though his condition remains unknown.

Anthony Guglielmi, Chief of Communications for the US Secret Service, stated that 

“Secret Service personnel were involved in a shooting following an armed encounter with a person of interest shortly after midnight on March 9 at 17th and G Streets NW.”

“As officers approached, the individual brandished a firearm and an armed confrontation ensued, during which shots were fired by our personnel,” the statement continued. “The suspect was transported to an area hospital and his condition is unknown. There were no reported injuries to Secret Service personnel.”

“The incident is under investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department Internal Affairs Division's Force Investigations Team, which investigates all law enforcement officer involved shootings in the District of Columbia,” Guglielmi added. 

A report from the Daily Mail indicated that the man had been suicidal before traveling to Washington, though officials have not released further details about his background or motives.

The incident occurred on the same day that multiple protest groups had gathered in the nation’s capital. Earlier, LGBT activists marched to the Kennedy Center in opposition to the Trump administration’s targeting of drag shows. Additionally, Iranian-American demonstrators rallied for a “Free Iran.” Authorities have not indicated whether the shooting was connected to any of the protests