Fresh Shooting Near White House Prompts Lockdown

A gunman opened fire near the White House, the official residence of the US President, on Saturday evening (May 23) local time.

The incident triggered a shootout with Secret Service agents, resulting in the gunman being shot dead. Following the incident, a strict security lockdown was imposed on the area.

Al Jazeera reported the information, citing official sources.

According to the report, shortly after 6:00 PM, a suspect approached a Secret Service checkpoint located at the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.

He suddenly pulled a firearm out of his bag and began shooting at the officers on duty. US President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time of the incident.

The Secret Service, the federal agency responsible for presidential security, confirmed the details in a statement.

The agency noted that a preliminary investigation indicated the suspect had concealed the weapon in a bag and drew it upon reaching the checkpoint.

Agents returned fire, hitting the suspect. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.

A bystander was also shot and wounded during the exchange of gunfire.

However, authorities have not yet confirmed whether the pedestrian was hit by the suspect's initial shots or during the subsequent crossfire. No Secret Service personnel were injured in the incident.

Immediate Lockdown and Security Measures
Immediately following the shooting, a high-security lockdown was declared across the White House complex. Republican members of the US House of Representatives confirmed via posts on X (formerly Twitter) that President Trump was safe.

However, the White House did not immediately issue an official statement regarding the President's status. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise expressed his concern for the President on X, writing, "We live in dangerous times."

Al Jazeera journalist Kimberly Halkett, reporting from the scene, stated that more than 30 gunshots were heard from the North Lawn of the White House.

Immediately after the gunfire erupted, journalists on the White House lawn were instructed to run and take shelter inside the press briefing room.

Police cordoned off the surrounding area from the public, and National Guard members restricted journalists from approaching the immediate scene.

Halkett further reported that a legal order had recently been issued restricting the suspect from entering the area. However, he defied the order, approached the checkpoint, and opened fire.

This incident comes less than a month after another shooting occurred near a Washington, D.C. hotel on April 26 during the White House Correspondents' Dinner, raising renewed concerns over security outside the US President's residence.