A man was shot by law enforcement near the Washington Monument after he opened fire on Secret Service agents on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. as plainclothes officers spotted the armed suspect near the White House.
Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn reported that agents noticed the man carrying a firearm and followed him before alerting uniformed officers. As the officers attempted to engage the suspect, he fled and fired shots at them.
Law enforcement returned fire, resulting in the suspect being transported to a local hospital. Details regarding his condition have not yet been disclosed.
In addition, a minor was injured during the incident. Emergency personnel reported that the child was not seriously hurt but was taken to a hospital. Quinn indicated that investigators believe the minor may have been struck by shots fired by the suspect, though he deferred confirmation to medical professionals.
Investigation Underway
Quinn stated that the Washington, D.C., police department will handle the investigation into the shooting involving officers. He advised the public to steer clear of the area as emergency crews responded.
The White House was temporarily locked down during the investigation. However, President Donald Trump continued his small business event without disruption.
This incident follows closely after a recent attempt by a gunman to breach the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. That event also involved a Secret Service officer who was shot but sustained no serious injuries due to wearing body armor.
Quinn refrained from speculating whether Monday's shooting was directed at the President, stating, 'Whether or not it was directed to the president or not, I don’t know, but we will find out.'