White House On Lockdown As Secret Service Investigate 'Shots Fired' Reports

'We are on lockdown.'
People run away from a site where an unidentified man was wounded in a shooting near the White House in Washington
People run away from a site where an unidentified man was wounded in a shooting near the White House in Washington
Reuters/TWITTER/ FLORIANLUHN

The White House was put on lockdown on Saturday after a man shot and killed himself.

The US Secret Service said on Twitter shortly after 5pm that its personnel were responding to reports a person had suffered a “self-inflicted gun shot wound”.

BREAKING: Secret Service personnel are responding to reports of a person who allegedly suffered a self-inflicted gun shot wound along the north fence line of @WhiteHouse.

— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) March 3, 2018

BREAKING: We're sheltering in place at the White House briefing room. A report of "shots fired" near North Lawn, per a U.S. Secret Service agent. Trying to learn more.

— Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) March 3, 2018

“We are on lockdown but now they’ve allowed us up into the [press] briefing room,” CBS News cameraman, Brian Fuss says from the White House. “It looks like the incident out on Pennsylvania avenue has quieted down.” https://t.co/xVqLfJ1YTj pic.twitter.com/xt2qbXk0h3

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 3, 2018

A statement later issued by the Secret Service said: “At approximately 11:46 AM, a white male suffered a self-inflicted gun-shot wound to the head outside the North White House fence line. The subject is deceased.

“The subject approached the vicinity of the North White House fence line and removed a concealed handgun and fired several rounds, none of which appear at this time to have been directed towards the White House.

“The President and First Lady were not in the White House at the time of the incident.”

US President Donald Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida at the time.

Pedestrian and vehicle traffic around the White House was blocked off by police, which is routine in such incidents, Reuters reported.

The Secret Service later said there were “no other reported injuries” and that medics were treating an unidentified male victim.

The man’s name has not been released.

Close

What's Hot