Secret Service shot man near White House after he opened fire

WASHINGTON - A man was shot by U.S. Secret Service agents near the White House on Saturday after he opened fire with a handgun, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The man had been pacing along the street for some time before drawing the weapon and firing, and was struck by agents, said the person, who was granted anonymity to describe a sensitive investigation. The incident appears to be an isolated one, the person said, adding that two bystanders were also hit by gunfire.

The shooting occurred near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, outside the White House complex. The Secret Service said earlier it was aware of reports of shots fired in the area and was working to confirm details with personnel on the ground.

Reporters were hustled off the White House lawn and into the building as the campus was locked down. Fox News reported that a gunman was taken down by the Secret Service on the west side of the White House.

More than two hours before the incident, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung posted that President Donald Trump was in the executive mansion.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel posted on X that his agency is also assisting the Secret Service.

Saturday's incident comes a little under a month after federal agents arrested a man at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner for attempting to assassinate Trump. The suspect attempted to charge through a security checkpoint with firearms.

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This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 5:57 PM.