Secret Service shoots armed suspect near White House after brief lockdown

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US Secret Service agents shot and wounded an armed suspect near the White House on Monday, triggering a brief lockdown after the man opened fire. The incident unfolded shortly after Vice President JD Vance’s motorcade passed, with officials saying the vice president was not believed to be a target.

Issued on: 05/05/2026 - 00:55

1 min Reading time Share By: FRANCE 24

An armed man was shot by US Secret Service (USSS) agents in downtown Washington on Monday, officials said, prompting a brief lockdown of the nearby White House.

The shooting near the National Mall occurred shortly after a motorcade carrying Vice President JD Vance had passed by the area, USSS Deputy Director Matthew Quinn said.

Quinn told reporters he did not believe that the vice president was an intended target and said he could not speculate if it was related to recent attempts on the life of President Donald Trump.

"I'm not going to guess on that," he said. "Whether or not it was directed to the president or not, I don't know, but we will find out."

Quinn said the shooting took place after Secret Service agents identified a "suspicious individual," who appeared to have a firearm.

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The man fled on foot after being approached by the officers, drew his weapon and opened fire, Quinn said.

The Secret Service agents returned fire and wounded the suspect. He was taken to hospital. His condition was not immediately known.

Quinn said a bystander, a juvenile, was slightly wounded.

The incident comes slightly more than a week after a gunman tried to break through security at a Washington hotel where Trump was attending an event.

Cole Allen, 31, has been charged with seeking to assassinate the president.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

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