Alert: Child Struck by Gunfire as Secret Service Neutralizes Alleged Gunman Near White House
Gunshots were reported near the white House on Monday afternoon when a gunman fired at Secret Service agents. The incident occurred around 3 p.m. at 15th Street and Independence Avenue, close to the Washington Monument, and involved personnel from the Secret Service’s Uniformed Division.Secret service Deputy Director Matt quinn said the suspect’s gunfire also hit a bystander described as a youth, and that the child received treatment at a hospital with injuries officials said were not life-threatening.
Quinn said agents detected a “visual print” indicating a firearm, made contact after identifying an armed individual, and that the suspect briefly fled on foot, then withdrew a weapon and fired toward agents. Agents returned fire and engaged the suspect. Quinn added that a motorcade that included Vice President J.D. Vance had passed the area shortly beforehand, and he said he could not speculate about whether the suspect targeted President Donald Trump at the time.
Reports also said the wounded suspect was taken to a hospital, and that a white House meeting between Trump and small business owners proceeded as planned.
Gunshots rang out not far from the White House Monday as a gunman fired on Secret Service agents.
The shooting took place around 3 p.m. at 15th Street and Independence Avenue, near the Washington Monument and about a half-mile from the White House.
The shooting involved agents with the Uniformed Division, Fox News reported.
Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn said that a bystander he called a juvenile was hit by the suspect’s gunfire.
U.S. Secret Service personnel are on the scene of an officer-involved shooting at 15th Street and Independence Avenue in Washington, D.C. One individual was shot by law enforcement; their condition is currently unknown. Please avoid the area as emergency crews are responding. pic.twitter.com/LNUTL2F3gM
— U.S. Secret Service Office of Communications (@SecretSvcSpox) May 4, 2026
The child was treated at a hospital; officials said the injuries were not life-threatening.
Quinn said agents detected a “visual print” of a weapon.
“My understanding is they observed a print,” Quinn said.
“These are trained surveillance detection personnel out there looking every day to look for just that … and they observed a visual print of a firearm,” he said.
BREAKING UPDATE: Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew C. Quinn held a press conference at the scene of a Secret Service shooting near the White House.
After identifying an individual armed with a firearm, the Secret Service made contact with him. The individual then fled and… pic.twitter.com/W3p7IbRIyZ
— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) May 4, 2026
“Upon making contact, that individual fled briefly on foot, withdrew a firearm, and fired in the direction of our agents and officers,” Quinn said. “They returned fire and engaged.”
Quinn said a motorcade that included Vice President J.D. Vance had driven by the area not long before the incident.
“I can’t say — I’m not going to guess on that,” Quinn said when asked whether he thought the suspect may have been targeting President Donald Trump.
Secret Service shoots armed man near White House — as Trump holds business event inside https://t.co/2G38fMHJVv pic.twitter.com/EQHQ7Sg6Jd
— New York Post (@nypost) May 4, 2026
“I can tell you that every time, we’re patrolling this area. In every site, we do 24/7, hardcore, whether or not it was directed to the president or not, I don’t know. But we will find out,” he said.
Fox reported the wounded suspect was taken to a hospital.
A White House meeting with President Donald Trump and small business owners took place as planned, the New York Post reported.
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