Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, May 5: A man carrying a firearm near the White House was shot by law enforcement on Monday after he allegedly opened fire on officers close to the Washington Monument, the United States Secret Service said.

The incident triggered a brief lockdown of the White House complex, even as President Donald Trump continued attending an event inside without interruption.

According to Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn, plainclothes agents first spotted the suspect around 3.30 pm (local time) near the White House after noticing what appeared to be the imprint of a weapon.

Agents monitored the individual briefly before alerting uniformed personnel. When officers approached, the suspect attempted to flee and subsequently fired at them.

“The man fired at the officers,” Quinn said, adding that law enforcement officers returned fire, striking the suspect.

The injured individual was taken to a local hospital, though officials said his condition remains unclear.

Emergency responders also treated a minor injured during the incident. Quinn said the juvenile was not seriously hurt, and preliminary assessments suggest the injury may have been caused by the suspect’s gunfire.

Authorities confirmed that the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia will lead the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.

The Secret Service urged the public to avoid the area around the National Mall as emergency teams responded. Journalists outside the White House were escorted into the briefing room during the temporary lockdown.

Despite the heightened security situation, President Trump continued hosting a small business event at the White House.

When asked whether the incident was linked to the President or Vice President JD Vance, Quinn said there was no confirmation.

“Whether or not it was directed to the President, I don’t know, but we will find out,” he stated, adding that it was unlikely the Vice President was the intended target.

The development comes just over a week after another security scare in Washington, when a man identified as Cole Tomas Allen allegedly attempted to breach security at an event attended by Trump. In that incident, a Secret Service officer was shot but escaped serious injury due to body armour.