A shooting near the Washington Monument on Monday afternoon triggered a swift and heavy response from the Secret Service, briefly locking down the White House and rattling an area crowded with visitors.
According to Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn, the incident began when officers confronted a suspect near 15th Street and Independence Avenue. The individual opened fire, prompting officers to return fire. A bystander was struck by the suspect’s gunfire, Quinn said, though details about the victim’s condition were not immediately released.
Quinn noted that the motorcade of Vice President JD Vance had passed through the area shortly before the shooting, but there was no indication the attack was directed at it.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene, and authorities urged the public to avoid the area as they secured the perimeter just steps from the White House. Inside, President Donald Trump continued hosting a small business event without interruption, while journalists outside were quickly ushered into the briefing room as a precaution.
Vito Maggiolo, spokesperson for D.C. Fire and EMS, said an adult male was transported to a hospital and a teenage male was treated for minor injuries. He referred further questions to police, who are leading the investigation.
The shooting drew an extensive law enforcement presence, coming just days after another high‑profile security scare when a gunman attempted to force his way into the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner armed with weapons. In that earlier incident, a Secret Service officer was injured and a suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, was charged.
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the suspect involved in Monday’s shooting or a possible motive.
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