A gunman reportedly opened fire outside the White House Saturday evening, getting off about three shots before he was taken down by a barrage from the Secret Service, sources said.
The gunman fired at a checkpoint at about 6:10 p.m. after being seen pacing in a strange manner up 17th St. Northwest, sources told The Post. He used a revolver and only got off a few shots before he was quickly neutralized in a hail of bullets from federal officers, sources told The Post.
A least one bystander were hit in the fusillade and another person was also injured, the sources said. According to multiple reports, the suspect, who never breached the White House grounds, died.
While a motive for the attack hasn’t been confirmed, sources said the shooter is a mentally troubled individual who believed he was Jesus Christ and is known to the Secret Service and has violated a pervious court order to stay away from the White House.
After the sound of numerous shots rang out, members of the press who were filming at the White House were seen diving for cover and were told by Secret Service to gather on the north lawn and to run into the press briefing room.
“FBI is on the scene and supporting Secret Service responding to shots fired near White House grounds – we will update the public as we’re able,” FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X.
The gunman, who sources said was black make, was taken down by members of the Secret Service Uniformed Division.
“I was in the middle of taping on my iPhone for a social video from the White House North Lawn when we heard the shots,” said Selina Wang, a senior ABC White House correspondent.
“It sounded like dozens of gunshots. We were told to sprint to the press briefing room where we are holding now.”
CNN reported that the lock down was later lifted at about 6:45 p.m.
The apparent shots rang out a little less than two hours after President Trump announced on Truth Social that he was in the Oval Office working on a peace deal with Iran.
It also comes about a month after a lone gunman opened fired a the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, where Trump was in attendance.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
