A child was injured in crossfire after Secret Service agents opened fire on a suspect near the White House on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. near 15th Street and Independence Avenue, close to the Washington Monument and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Details of the Incident
Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn stated that plainclothes officers observed a man who appeared to be carrying a weapon. When they attempted to approach him, he fled, prompting the officers to open fire. The suspect was struck by gunfire, and his condition remains unknown. A child in the vicinity was also hit and is receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.
The White House was temporarily locked down, but President Joe Biden, who was delivering a speech to small business leaders inside, was not interrupted. Journalists outside were briefly moved into the briefing room.
Security Context
This incident follows a recent shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, where a man opened fire with a shotgun, handgun, and knives. That suspect, identified as Cole Thomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, was arrested and charged. In writings found in his hotel room, Allen expressed grievances about oppression and criticized security at the event.
The Secret Service confirmed that the scene has been secured, and the DC Police Department reported that a young man was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. The investigation is ongoing.
