Suspect dies after trading gunfire with officers near White House, Secret Service says
By Jana WinterReuters
Law enforcement officials inspect evidence on the street after a shooting incident near the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper
Kylie Cooper
Reuters
WASHINGTON - Officers shot a suspect who fired at a White House checkpoint on Saturday evening, who then died after being taken to the hospital, the Secret Service said.
A person approached the checkpoint at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House, pulled a gun out of his bag and started shooting at officers, according to a Secret Service statement posted on social media. Officers returned fire and shot the suspect, the agency said.
A bystander was also struck by gunfire, but it was not clear how badly the person was hurt, according to a separate Secret Service statement cited by multiple news outlets. The statement said it was not clear who fired the shot that hit the bystander.
The shooting suspect was identified as an emotionally disturbed person, a law enforcement official told Reuters, adding that a "stay-away order" had been issued to him previously.
No law enforcement personnel were injured, the Secret Service said.
President Donald Trump was at the White House during the incident, the Secret Service said.
(Reporting by Jana Winter and Rodrigo Campos; Additional reporting by Ryan Patrick Jones in Toronto; Writing by Rodrigo Campos; Editing by Sergio Non and David Gregorio)
Law enforcement agents examine the evidence inside a cordoned off area on the street after a shooting incident near the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper Kylie Cooper Reuters
A law enforcement official stands near the scene, after a shooting incident near the White House, in Washington, , in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper Kylie Cooper Reuters
FBI agents stand on the street after a shooting incident near the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper Kylie Cooper Reuters
Evidence marked by a cone after a shooting incident near the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper Kylie Cooper Reuters
U.S. Secret Service agents keep watch on the roof of the White House after a shooting incident nearby in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard Nathan Howard Reuters
Members of the National Guard stand guard near the White House after a shooting incident in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard Nathan Howard Reuters
Law enforcement agents stand behind yellow tape near the White House, after gunshots were heard nearby, in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper Kylie Cooper Reuters
Members of the U.S. National Guard stand behind yellow tape cordoning an area near the White House after alleged gunshots were heard nearby, in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper Kylie Cooper Reuters
A U.S. Secret Service agent walks with law enforcement vehicles in the background near the White House, after alleged gunshots were heard nearby, in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper Kylie Cooper Reuters
A member of the U.S. Secret Service watches holding his weapon after alleged gunfire was heard nearby, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard Nathan Howard Reuters
Journalists look out of windows in the White House press briefing room after alleged gunshots were heard nearby in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard Nathan Howard Reuters
A U.S. Secret Service agent runs after alleged gunshots were heard nearby, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard Nathan Howard Reuters
A reporter stands in front of a teleprompter in the press area on the North Lawn of the White House after alleged gunshots were heard nearby, in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard Nathan Howard Reuters
Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.
This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 9:49 PM.
