An armed suspect is dead after opening fire on Secret Service officers at a checkpoint just steps from the White House on Saturday evening. President Trump was inside the White House when the shooting unfolded near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. According to multiple reports, the suspect approached a Secret Service checkpoint, brandished a pistol, and fired approximately three shots at officers posted at the location. Secret Service agents returned fire. The suspect was struck and later died. A bystander was also shot during the exchange. It is not yet clear from available reports whether the bystander was hit by the suspect or during the return fire. Reporters on the White House grounds were immediately ordered to shelter in place. Journalists on the North Lawn were told to sprint to the press briefing room, where they were held as the situation developed. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed his agency was on the scene and supporting Secret Service. Fox News congressional correspondent Chad Pergram reported additional details as they came in, confirming the suspect brandished a pistol and that both the alleged perpetrator and a bystander were shot. As reported by The Post Millennial: No motive has been publicly identified at this time. Authorities have not yet released the name of the suspect or the condition of the bystander. The Secret Service did exactly what it is trained to do: neutralize a lethal threat to the President of the United States and the people surrounding him. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. ABC News White House correspondent Selina Wang posted from the scene after reporters were rushed inside: 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. It sounded like dozens of gunshots. We were told to sprint to the press briefing room where we are holding now. pic.twitter.com/iqdQwh4soq — Selina Wang (@selinawangtv) May 23, 2026 FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed federal agents were responding near the White House grounds: 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 (@FBIDirectorKash) May 23, 2026 The Post Millennial reported the updated Secret Service account: The updated account said an individual approached a Secret Service checkpoint in the area of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW shortly after 6:00 p.m. Saturday. A preliminary investigation indicated the individual removed a weapon from his bag and began firing at posted officers. Secret Service police officers returned fire, striking the suspect. The suspect was transported to an area hospital and later died. A bystander was also struck by gunfire. Secret Service said it remained unclear whether the bystander was struck by the suspect’s initial gunfire or during the subsequent exchange of gunfire. That point matters, because the public facts are still developing and the investigation has not assigned that detail. The Post Millennial also noted that President Trump was at the White House when the shots took place, and that the White House was secured and placed on lockdown after the gunfire. The Associated Press gave more detail on the shelter order and President Trump’s location: A law enforcement official said Secret Service shot a person near the White House and that a bystander also was shot. Journalists working at the White House on Saturday evening reported hearing gunfire and were told to seek shelter inside the press briefing room. FBI Director Kash Patel said officers were responding to shots fired and said the FBI would update the public as able. President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time. The initial Secret Service public statement said the agency was aware of reports of shots fired near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, one block from the White House, and was working to corroborate information with personnel on the ground. That timeline explains why the first public accounts came from reporters hearing shots from the North Lawn before the law-enforcement details began to emerge. Axios and Breitbart added additional reporting from the scene: Multiple reporters at the White House said they were told by Secret Service to take shelter. Local and national TV correspondents reported hearing multiple shots around 6:15 p.m. Eastern. Video posted by ABC News White House correspondent Selina Wang captured the sound of what appeared to be repeated shots before crews moved for cover. Early outlet reporting said someone fired multiple shots with a pistol near one of the White House gates and that Secret Service returned fire. Other reports said the apparent shooter and a bystander had both been shot. Those first reports said both shooting victims were still alive around 7:15 p.m. Eastern, before later updates said the suspect had died at the hospital. Breitbart also highlighted Wang’s account from the North Lawn and Kash Patel’s statement that the FBI was on scene supporting Secret Service. The scene described by reporters was chaotic: shots heard from the White House grounds, media being rushed from the North Lawn, and security forces moving quickly around the complex. Those on-scene accounts help explain why the story spread first through video clips and urgent social posts before the more precise checkpoint details were released. This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport. View the original article here.