A man was shot dead by US Secret Service officers after opening fire at a security checkpoint near the White House on Saturday evening, injuring a bystander during the exchange.
The suspect reportedly pulled a weapon from a bag and opened fire at a checkpoint near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC, shortly after 6pm local time.
Secret Service agents returned fire, fatally wounding the suspect, who later died in hospital. Authorities said it remains unclear whether the injured bystander was struck by the suspect’s gunfire or during the exchange.
President Donald Trump, who was inside the White House at the time, was unharmed. The White House was placed under lockdown, while no Secret Service personnel were injured.
US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said he was monitoring the situation, describing the shooting as a reminder of the risks faced by law enforcement officers. (NewsWire)