Washington, D.C. — A sudden outbreak of gunfire near the White House on Saturday evening sent shockwaves through the nation’s capital, prompting an immediate lockdown by law enforcement and forcing journalists and bystanders into shelter. The incident unfolded around 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW—just one block from the presidential complex—around the time U.S. President Donald Trump was engaged in high-level negotiations concerning a potential regional agreement involving Iran and several Middle Eastern countries.
According to multiple reports, Secret Service personnel responded swiftly and shot a suspect near the scene. A bystander was also struck during the chaos, though authorities have not yet confirmed the extent of injuries or the identity of the injured. The Metropolitan Police Department had not issued a formal statement at the time of reporting, and the Secret Service stated it was still gathering information from personnel on the ground.
President Trump was inside the Oval Office during the incident, participating in a series of calls with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain. Earlier in the evening, Trump posted on social media that discussions on a possible “memorandum of understanding pertaining to peace” had made significant progress, and that a broader agreement was nearing completion. He also confirmed he had spoken separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, though final details of any potential agreement remained under discussion.
The gunfire triggered panic among journalists stationed on the White House North Lawn. ABC News correspondent Selina Wang described hearing what sounded like “dozens of gunshots” while she was filming a social media segment on her iPhone. She recounted being ordered to immediately sprint to the press briefing room for safety. Wang later shared audio on social media platform X, which captured the sounds of the gunfire as she dove to the ground. Another witness, Canadian tourist Reid Adrian, told AFP that the initial sounds resembled fireworks before the crowd realized they were gunshots. He estimated hearing between 20 to 25 shots before people began running in panic.
In response to the incident, authorities sealed off sections of downtown Washington, D.C., as National Guard troops and federal agents established a heavy security perimeter around the area. The Secret Service confirmed it was investigating reports of gunfire near the White House and stated officials were verifying details with on-ground personnel. Kash Patel, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), posted on X that FBI agents were assisting the Secret Service in responding to the incident. “FBI is on the scene and supporting Secret Service responding to shots fired near White House grounds — we will update the public as we’re able,” Patel wrote.
While no official injury reports have been confirmed, the situation underscores ongoing security concerns surrounding President Trump. This incident follows a previous breach on April 25, when an armed man reportedly stormed a security checkpoint near a ballroom where Trump was attending a media gala. Saturday’s scare once again placed the White House under intense lockdown, with heavily armed officers continuing to sweep the area late into the evening.
Authorities have not yet released details on the suspect’s identity, the nature of the gunfire, or the condition of the bystander. The investigation remains active, with the Secret Service and FBI coordinating on-site to determine the full circumstances of the incident.
