US: Suspect dies after gunfire near White House

The White House was placed on lockdown after a suspect opened fire nearby on Saturday evening.

The alleged gunman shot at officers stationed outside the White House and died during the incident, the Secret Service said on social media.

"Secret Service police officers returned fire, striking the suspect, who was transported to an area hospital, where he later died," a statement said, adding that no officers were injured.

A bystander was also shot, the Secret Service said. No information has been provided on the victim's condition.

A law enforcement official told reporters on condition of anonymity that the suspect was emotionally disturbed and had previously been issued with a "stay-away order."

What else do we know about the shooting near the White House?

US President Donald Trump was at the White House at the time of the shooting. It is not known if he was the intended target.

Trump had said in a post on his Truth Social platform earlier on Saturday evening that he was at the Oval Office working on finalizing a deal with Iran.

The Secret Service said no White House "protectees or operations were impacted."

Benjamin Alvarez, DW's Washington DC correspondent, said that there was a "heavy Secret Service, police, and National Guard presence at 17th and H Street NW," just outside the White House.

Police set up a security perimeter and urged the public to avoid the area.

Journalists working at the White House say they were told to take shelter after the area was placed under lockdown.

The scene of Saturday's shooting is very close to where two West Virginia National Guard troops were shot in November 2025. One of the soldiers died, while the other was left in critical condition.

Attempts to assassinate Trump

Saturday's incident comes less than a month after Trump was targeted in what authorities say was an attempted assassination on April 25 while the president attended the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at a hotel in the US capital.

A 31-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder.

Trump, 79, has survived two other alleged assassination attempts. 

A bullet grazed his ear when he was targeted at an election campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July 2024.

In September that year, a man was accused of plotting to kill Trump at his Florida golf course.

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko

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