A man was shot dead by US Secret Service officers after opening fire at a security checkpoint near the White House, while a bystander was also wounded in the incident, reports said, the shooting occurred shortly after 6pm on Saturday when the suspect approached a Secret Service checkpoint at the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC.
Authorities said the man pulled a weapon from a bag and began firing at officers stationed at the checkpoint.
The US Secret Service, the agency tasked with protecting the president, confirmed the incident in an official statement, saying preliminary investigations showed the suspect had concealed the weapon inside a bag before opening fire.
Secret Service agents returned fire, critically wounding the suspect, who was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
A bystander was also injured during the shooting, although officials said it remained unclear whether the individual was struck by the suspect’s gunfire or during the exchange of fire with officers.
President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time of the incident and was unharmed. The White House was immediately placed under lockdown following the shooting.
No Secret Service personnel were reported injured.
US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said he was closely monitoring the situation and would issue a statement soon.
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the suspect or disclosed a possible motive. The Secret Service said the investigation was ongoing.
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