A juvenile bystander was rushed to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after being caught in an exchange of gunfire near the White House on Sunday, prompting a temporary lockdown of the presidential complex.
The incident occurred shortly after Vice President JD Vance had departed the area. According to Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew C. Quinn, officers responded to reports of an armed individual near 15th Street and Independence Avenue. The suspect fled briefly on foot before allegedly firing at law enforcement personnel, who returned fire. The suspect was also hospitalized, and authorities recovered a firearm from the scene.
Secret Service officials confirmed the event as an “officer-involved shooting” and stated there was no immediate indication that the White House or the vice president’s motorcade had been specifically targeted. Investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the confrontation.
This latest security scare comes just over a week after another serious incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Federal prosecutors have charged 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of California with attempting to breach security while President Donald Trump was in attendance. Authorities allege Allen was carrying multiple weapons and tried to force his way toward the ballroom before being stopped by security.
During a federal court appearance, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Ballantine described the allegations forcefully, stating that Allen “attempted to assassinate the president of the United States.” Prosecutors have requested he remain detained as the investigation proceeds, with potential additional charges still under consideration.
Security officials underscored the gravity of such events near high-profile government locations. “This is the kind of situation that we cannot tolerate,” one official remarked, noting heightened concerns over recent threats in Washington, D.C. The Secret Service and local law enforcement continue to investigate both incidents.
