White House shooting live: Gun-wielding suspect killed by Secret Service as shots fired toward executive mansion

The male suspect who died after opening fire near the White House Saturday had a history of mental health issues, officials told Fox News. The suspect approached a Secret Service checkpoint at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, drew a weapon from his bag and shot at officers before being fatally struck by return fire.

A bystander was also wounded during the exchange, though their condition is unknown and it remains unclear who fired the shot that hit them.

The U.S. Secret Service released an official statement Saturday evening providing a preliminary timeline of the shooting. The full statement, by a Secret Service spokesperson, is included below:

“Shortly after 6:00 p.m. Saturday, an individual approached a Secret Service checkpoint in the area of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. A preliminary investigation indicates that as the individual approached, he removed a weapon from his bag and began firing at posted officers.

Secret Service police officers returned fire, striking the suspect, who was transported to an area hospital, where he later died. During the shooting, a bystander was also struck by gunfire. It remains unclear whether the bystander was struck by the suspect’s initial gunfire or during the subsequent exchange of gunfire.

No injuries were sustained by Secret Service personnel. The President was at the White House during the incident but was not impacted.

The incident remains under investigation.”

A suspect began shooting Saturday evening at a security booth outside the White House where U.S. Secret Service officers were on guard inside, two sources familiar with the matter told CBS News. Somewhere between 10 and 20 shots were fired during the initial encounter.

Secret Service officers returned gunfire, wounding the suspect, according to the sources. None of the Secret Service officers on duty are believed to have been struck by the gunfire.

ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Selina Wang captured the audio of the gunshots while filming a video on the White House North Lawn. In a post shared on social media, Wang stated that she was recording on her phone when the incident began.

“It sounded like dozens of gunshots,” Wang said in the post. She added that members of the press corps were ordered by security personnel to immediately run into the indoor press briefing room, where reporters were held while the complex was under lockdown.

The U.S. Secret Service shot a person near the White House grounds on Saturday evening after the individual opened fire on a security booth, law enforcement officials told the Associated Press. A bystander was also injured by gunfire during the exchange.