Photo: ALEX WROBLEWSKI / AFP / Getty Images
The United States Secret Service is investigating a shooting incident that occurred near the White House on Saturday (May 23). According to the agency, a gunman approached the outer perimeter of the White House and began firing. Secret Service officers returned fire, and the suspect was pronounced dead at a local hospital. A bystander was also struck by gunfire.
The incident took place in the late afternoon near the National Mall and the Washington Monument, areas typically bustling with tourists and office workers. The White House was placed on lockdown as a precaution, but the lockdown has since been lifted.
This shooting follows an alleged assassination attempt on President Trump at the White House Correspondents' Dinner last month. The suspect in that incident, Cole Tomas Allen, is in custody and facing multiple charges, including attempting to kill the president.
The Secret Service continues to face challenges in securing high-profile events and locations, especially amid heightened concerns about political violence. The agency's protective measures, which include multiple layers of security, aim to mitigate such threats.