National

Suspect 'down' after shooting at officers near White House, official says

By Jana Winter Reuters
A member of the U.S. Secret Service watches holding his weapon after alleged gunfire was heard nearby, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
A member of the U.S. Secret Service watches holding his weapon after alleged gunfire was heard nearby, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard Nathan Howard Reuters

WASHINGTON - Officers at a White House checkpoint responded to gunshots on Saturday evening, and a shooting suspect was "down" and taken to a hospital, a law enforcement official told Reuters.

A person approached the checkpoint at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House and started shooting at officers, according to the official. The suspect is "down" and was transported to George Washington Hospital, the official said. He did not specify the suspect's condition or how he was brought down.

The suspect was identified as an emotionally disturbed person, the official said, adding that a "stay-away order" had been issued to the suspect previously.

Earlier, the U.S. Secret Service said it was investigating the incident and FBI Director Kash Patel said his agency was supporting the probe.

(Reporting by Jana Winter; Additional reporting by Ryan Patrick Jones in Toronto; Writing by Rodrigo Campos; Editing by Sergio Non and David Gregorio)

A U.S. Secret Service agent walks holding his weapon after alleged gunshots were heard nearby, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
A U.S. Secret Service agent walks holding his weapon after alleged gunshots were heard nearby, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard Nathan Howard Reuters
A U.S. Secret Service agent runs after alleged gunshots were heard nearby, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
A U.S. Secret Service agent runs after alleged gunshots were heard nearby, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard Nathan Howard Reuters
Journalists look out of windows in the White House press briefing room after alleged gunshots were heard nearby in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
Journalists look out of windows in the White House press briefing room after alleged gunshots were heard nearby in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard Nathan Howard Reuters
A U.S. Secret Service agent stands guard holding his weapon after alleged gunshots were heard nearby, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
A U.S. Secret Service agent stands guard holding his weapon after alleged gunshots were heard nearby, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard Nathan Howard Reuters

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 4:35 PM.

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