Texas man hit with federal charges for shooting at Secret Service agents near White House

A Texas man has been hit with three federal charges after allegedly shooting at Secret Service agents near the Washington Monument in Washington, DC on Monday. The incident caused the White House to briefly go into lockdown.

The Department of Justice announced on Wednesday that 45-year-old Michael Marx, of Midland, Texas, has been charged with assaulting federal officers with a dangerous weapon, using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 

A plainclothes Secret Service agent observed a man who was later identified as Marx appearing to conceal a firearm on his body at around 3:40 pm near 15th Street and Madison Drive NW. The agent requested uniformed backup. At the same time, a motorcade for Vice President JD Vance had departed the White House and was passing through the area of 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW. 

Uniformed Secret Service officers located Marx along the route of the motorcade. When approached by the officers, Marx approached a group of pedestrians crossing the street. He fled east on Independence Avenue when officers issued verbal commands. 

As officers pursued, Marx withdrew the firearm from his waistband. When he reached the sidewalk, he opened fire at one of the officers, striking a civilian who had been standing behind the officer. The civilian was wounded in the leg. Officers returned fire, hitting Marx in the hand, left arm, and upper abdomen, the DOJ said. 

Officers rendered aid when Marx collapsed at the intersection of 15th Street and Independence. He was identified through the Texas driver’s license found on his person. Aliases identified by law enforcement included Patrick Michael and Michael Zavici. 

While in the ambulance being transported to George Washington University Hospital, he allegedly made statements to officers that included "f*ck the White House" and "kill me, kill me, kill me."

A Sig Sauer P365 handgun loaded with 9mm ammunition was recovered from the area where Marx collapsed. He does not have a license to carry a handgun in the District of Columbia.