Gunfire erupts White House Security Checkpoint, one killed

DARWIN, May 24: A shooting took place near the White House — the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States — at a security checkpoint. One person was killed and another injured.

The incident occurred shortly after 6:00 p.m. local time on Saturday at a Secret Service checkpoint located at the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.

President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time. The White House was immediately placed under lockdown.

White House lockdown.

According to Al Jazeera, a suspected individual approached the checkpoint and suddenly pulled a firearm from a bag, opening fire on officers stationed there.

The Secret Service, the federal agency responsible for President Donald Trump’s protection, confirmed the sequence of events in an official statement.

Agents returned fire, critically wounding the suspect, who was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

A bystander was also shot during the incident. Authorities said it remains unclear whether the person was hit by the suspect’s initial gunfire or during the exchange of shots that followed.

No Secret Service personnel were injured.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said he was closely monitoring the situation and would issue a statement soon. Posting on X, Mullin said, “Tonight’s shooting is a reminder of the dangers our law enforcement officers face every day.”

House Republicans also commented online, expressing relief that Trump was safe. However, the White House itself did not immediately issue a statement regarding the president’s condition.

Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise wrote on X, “We are living in dangerous times.”

According to Al Jazeera correspondent Kimberly Halkett, who reported from the scene, more than 30 gunshots were heard from the White House North Lawn.

Journalists on the lawn were instructed to run inside the press briefing room for shelter. Police sealed off nearby areas, and National Guard troops prevented reporters from approaching the scene.

Halkett said the suspect had recently been ordered to stay away from the area but ignored the directive. Despite the restriction, he advanced toward the checkpoint and began shooting, prompting Secret Service agents to return fire.

The suspect was later taken to George Washington Hospital, Halkett added.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that his agency was assisting the Secret Service at the scene. In a social media post, he said, “We will update the public as soon as more information becomes available.”

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung attempted to reassure the public, posting on X that Trump was “still working at 8 p.m. Can’t stop, won’t stop.”

Saturday’s shooting came less than a month after another alleged assassination attempt involving Trump. On April 25, law enforcement described a separate shooting incident at the Washington Hilton Hotel as an attempted attack on Trump. A suspect was arrested after gunfire erupted at the hotel, where Trump and other senior officials were attending the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.

The latest incident has once again raised questions about presidential security measures.

“These kinds of incidents are happening more frequently now,” Halkett said.

Authorities have not yet released the identity or motive of the suspect. The Secret Service said the investigation is ongoing.