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Officials quickly escorted President Donald Trump away from a press conference on Monday. This happened after someone fired shots from outside the White House. A secret service agent struck an armed man as a result.
A statement was released by the Secret Service about the incident. Yesterday, an armed man approached the White House. The statement says that the 51-year-old man told an officer he had a weapon. He then “ran aggressively” toward the officer while pulling an object from his clothing. The suspect crouched into a “shooter’s stance,” as if he was going to fire a weapon.
As a result, the officer fired at the man, striking him in the torso. Officials took the suspect to an area hospital. We don’t yet have information on the man’s condition.
Tom Sullivan, the chief of the Secret Service Uniformed Division, read the statement to reporters. He didn’t say whether the officer suffered any injuries or if the suspect actually had a weapon. Sullivan said no one inside the White House complex was in danger, nor did the suspect breach the perimeter.
Trump returned to the briefing shortly after, saying he wasn’t aware of the specifics of the threat. So far, the President hasn’t mentioned the incident on Twitter.
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The Secret Service released the entirety of their statement about the shooting on Twitter. The statement reads:
“At approximately 5:53 PM today, a 51-year-old male approached a U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division officer who was standing at his post. On the corner of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. near the White House Complex.
“The suspect approached the officer and told the officer he had a weapon. The suspect then turned around, ran aggressively towards the officer. And, in a drawing motion, withdrew an object from his clothing.
“He then crouched into a shooter’s stance as if about to fire a weapon. The Secret Service officer discharged his weapon. Striking the individual in the torso. Officers immediately rendered first aid to the suspect and D.C. Fire and EMS were called to the scene.
“Both the suspect and the officer were transported to local hospitals. The White House Complex was not breached during the incident. And no Secret Service protectees were ever in danger.
“The Secret Service Office of Professional Responsibility will be conducting an internal review of the officer’s actions. The Metropolitan Police Department was contacted to conduct an investigation.”
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