An armed man was shot and injured by U.S. Secret Service personnel early Sunday morning near the White House following what authorities described as an “armed confrontation.”
The incident, which occurred shortly after midnight near the intersection of 17th and F Streets NW, has raised fresh concerns about security in the nation’s capital, though no Secret Service personnel were harmed, and President Donald Trump was not in the White House at the time.
According to a statement from Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi, the confrontation began after local police alerted the agency on Saturday about a “suicidal individual” believed to be traveling from Indiana to Washington, D.C.
The Washington Post reported that the man, whose identity and age have not yet been released, was suspected of intending to provoke a deadly encounter with law enforcement.
Around midnight, Secret Service officers located the individual’s parked vehicle and spotted a person on foot matching the description provided by D.C. police.
“As officers approached, the individual brandished a firearm, and an armed confrontation ensued, during which our personnel fired shots,” Guglielmi said in a statement posted on X, as reported by CNN.
Multiple agents discharged their weapons, according to The Washington Post, and the suspect was struck.
He was quickly transported to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery and remains in critical condition, though his current status has not been updated as of Sunday morning.
The Associated Press noted that the shooting took place less than a block from the White House, near the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, while President Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
The Secret Service emphasized that no other injuries were reported, and the incident did not appear to directly threaten the White House itself.
Details about the suspect remain scarce. Authorities have not confirmed whether he made any specific statements or demands during the confrontation.
However, the preliminary investigation suggests he may have been seeking a so-called “suicide by cop” scenario, a possibility hinted at in reports from both NBC News and The Washington Post.
The Secret Service had been on alert following the tip from D.C. police, which allowed them to track the suspect’s vehicle and respond swiftly when he was located.
The Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division Force Investigations Team has taken the lead in investigating the incident, as is standard protocol for officer-involved shootings in the District of Columbia, according to CNN.
The Secret Service has pledged full cooperation with the probe, which will examine the circumstances leading up to the use of lethal force.
This incident comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the Secret Service’s security protocols, particularly after high-profile incidents in recent years.
While Sunday’s swift response appears to have neutralized the threat, it underscores the persistent challenges of protecting the White House and its surroundings, a location that remains a symbolic target for individuals with varying motives.
NBC News reported that the confrontation unfolded in a busy area of downtown Washington, just steps from Pennsylvania Avenue, prompting a temporary security perimeter as authorities secured the scene.
Bystanders were rerouted, but the situation was brought under control without further incident.
As the investigation continues, questions linger about the suspect’s intentions and how he was able to approach such a sensitive area while armed.
The Secret Service has not yet released additional details about the firearm involved or the precise sequence of events, but officials have assured the public that the situation is contained.
