WASHINGTON, D.C. — May 23, 2026 — A man opened fire on U.S. Secret Service officers at a security checkpoint near the White House on Saturday evening and was shot and wounded in response, triggering a lockdown of the White House complex and a major law enforcement response.
What Happened
The incident unfolded around 6 p.m. ET at the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, just outside the White House complex, when a suspect approached a uniformed Secret Service checkpoint and began shooting at officers. The Secret Service and FBI both confirmed they were investigating reports of shots fired at the location. CNN reporters on the North Lawn reported hearing what appeared to be dozens of gunshots, and NBC News Capitol Hill Correspondent Julie Tsirkin and CNN’s Selina Wang were both in the process of filing live reports when shots rang out nearby.
Members of the press corps stationed on the White House North Lawn were immediately rushed inside the briefing room and instructed to shelter in place, as Secret Service agents shouted “get down” and warned of “shots fired”. One reporter noted the sounds appeared to come from the Eisenhower Executive Office Building side of the complex.
Suspect and Casualties
The suspect was shot and reported as “down,” then transported to George Washington University Hospital. The suspect was identified by a law enforcement official as an emotionally disturbed person, and a prior “stay-away order” had reportedly been issued against him. Two people in total were shot in the encounter, according to a CNN law enforcement source — the suspect and a bystander. Officials confirmed the bystander was also injured in the incident.
President Donald Trump was reported to be inside the White House residence at the time. Al Jazeera reported that a correspondent heard the U.S. president was inside the Oval Office, though that was not officially confirmed.
Law Enforcement Response
The lockdown was lifted shortly after 6:45 p.m. ET. FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X that the bureau was “on the scene and assisting the Secret Service in response to shots fired near the White House grounds”. The response involved the Secret Service, FBI, DC Metropolitan Police, US Park Police, and National Guard units.
Pattern of Violence Near the White House
This is the third major security incident near the White House in less than two months. On April 25, gunman Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, breached a security checkpoint outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton — armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives — allegedly targeting President Trump. He has pleaded not guilty to charges including attempted assassination of the president. Then on May 4, Secret Service agents exchanged gunfire with a separate armed suspect near the Washington Monument, striking him and injuring a juvenile bystander.
The clustering of these incidents has raised serious alarm about escalating political violence in the nation’s capital and prompted heightened vigilance from federal law enforcement across the Washington metropolitan area.
This is a developing story. Details may be updated as additional information is confirmed by authorities.
