On Monday, the Secret Service shot an armed man near the White House after he reportedly brandished a weapon and refused to comply with commands to drop it. The incident occurred just outside the White House grounds, near the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.
According to a statement released by the Secret Service, the man approached a Secret Service officer and claimed to have a weapon. When the officer demanded that he drop the weapon, the man instead raised it in a threatening manner. In response, the officer fired at the suspect, striking him in the torso.
The suspect was immediately taken into custody and transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. His condition was not immediately known, but it was reported that he was conscious and breathing at the time of his arrest.
President Donald Trump was not present at the White House at the time of the incident, as he was attending a campaign event in North Carolina. Vice President Mike Pence, who was also not at the White House, was reportedly briefed on the situation.
The incident prompted a brief lockdown of the White House complex, but normal activities resumed shortly after the suspect was apprehended. The Secret Service is conducting an investigation into the incident, and the officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
This is not the first time that the Secret Service has had to respond to a security threat near the White House. In 2017, a man was arrested after he climbed over a fence and onto the White House grounds, prompting a lockdown of the complex. In 2014, a man with a knife was able to run into the White House before being apprehended by Secret Service agents.
The Secret Service is tasked with protecting the President, Vice President, and other high-ranking officials, as well as securing the White House and other government buildings. Incidents like Monday’s shooting are a stark reminder of the constant threats that law enforcement officials face in their efforts to keep the nation’s leaders safe.
As the investigation into Monday’s incident continues, the Secret Service will undoubtedly be reviewing its protocols and procedures to ensure that such incidents are handled in the safest and most effective manner possible. The agency’s quick response to the armed man near the White House is a testament to the training and professionalism of its agents, who put their lives on the line every day to protect the President and the nation.