One person was shot by an uniformed officer and a young bystander was injured during an exchange of gunfire near the National Mall on Monday afternoon, the Secret Service said.<\/p>\n
The shooting happened at 15th Street SW and Independence Avenue, near the Washington Monument.<\/p>\n
Witnesses reported hearing at least five gunshots.<\/p>\n
About 3:30 p.m., plainclothes officers and agents who patrol the outer perimeter of the White House complex saw someone near the grounds who appeared to have a firearm, Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew C. Quinn said.<\/p>\n
They called uniformed officers who responded and approached that man. He ran, pulled out a firearm and fired toward the officers, Quinn said. The officers returned fire, striking him.<\/p>\n
The suspect has been taken to a hospital. Quinn declined to comment on his condition.<\/p>\n
Quinn said he believes the suspect’s gunfire struck the young bystander who was hurt.<\/p>\n
“I can’t say, and we’ll let the doctors figure that out, but everything I’ve seen leads me to believe, and the investigators believe, he was struck by the suspect,” Quinn said.<\/p>\n
Quinn didn’t confirm the age of the bystander but said he is a “juvenile.”<\/p>\n
The young victim suffered a possible graze wound to his lower body, according to other law enforcement sources. He walked over to an ambulance, where he was treated by paramedics. Eventually, the ambulance left for a hospital with a Secret Service escort.<\/p>\n
His injuries are not life-threatening, Quinn said.<\/p>\n
A weapon was recovered at the scene. Quinn declined to share what type of firearm it was.<\/p>\n
Streets in the area were blocked off due to the emergency response and investigation.<\/p>\n
Attn: Police Investigation Road Closures
\u26d4\ufe0f15th St from Constitution Ave NW to Maine Ave SW (NTN & S)
\u26d4\ufe0fIndependence Ave SW from 14th St to 15th St SW \/including on Ramp (NTW)
\ud83d\ude97Seek an alternate route or follow the directions provided by USSS & MPD – Closures subject to change<\/p>\n
\u2014 DC Police Traffic (@DCPoliceTraffic) May 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department will handle the investigation, including the use of force in the shooting, Quinn said.<\/p>\n Vice President JD Vance’s motorcade came through the area just before the shooting, although there was no indication it was targeted, Quinn said.<\/p>\n Quinn clarified that the suspect was not on White House grounds but was nearby and had been under observation for a short period before the confrontation.<\/p>\n The Secret Service is patrolling the area “24\/7, hard-core,” he said.<\/p>\n “Whether or not it was directed to the president or not, I don’t know, but we will find out,” Quinn said.<\/p>\n The suspect’s name has not yet been released.<\/p>\n The shooting led to a brief evacuation of the White House North Lawn, according to Monica Alba of NBC News. <\/p>\n Members of the press out on the lawn were evacuated just after 3:40 p.m., when Secret Service officers ran out with long guns drawn and urged them to run inside the briefing room. Reporters were allowed back outside about seven minutes later.<\/p>\n President Donald Trump was holding a small business event inside the White House then and was not aware at the time that anything had happened.<\/p>\n The White House is about a mile north of the Washington Monument.<\/p>\n \tNews4 sends breaking news stories by email. Go here to sign up<\/a> to get breaking news alerts in your inbox. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t