May 24, 2026, 7:24 AM

Suspect dead after opening fire near White House security checkpoint, Secret Service says

A person who opened fire near a White House security checkpoint on Saturday, May 23, 2026, was shot and killed by U.S. Secret Service officers who returned fire, the agency reported. The incident prompted street closures and a significant law enforcement presence around the White House complex in Washington.

The U.S. Secret Service (USSS) confirmed the death of the individual involved in the shooting. President Trump was reported safe following the incident.

Officers from the Secret Service's uniformed division responded to reports of a person discharging a weapon near the security checkpoint. Upon confronting the individual, the suspect opened fire, leading Secret Service officers to return shots.

Police and Secret Service personnel quickly established blockades on streets surrounding the White House. Emergency medical services (EMS) trucks were also present near the scene, where evidence markers were visible on the ground, according to the Orange County Register. Secret Service police were observed on the roof of the White House following the reports of gunfire.

A bystander was also injured during the exchange. WISH-TV reported the individual was in critical condition. However, a law enforcement official, cited by the Orange County Register, stated it remained unclear whether the bystander was struck by the suspect's initial bullets or those fired subsequently by officers.

The Orange County Register noted this incident marked the third time in the past month that gunfire had occurred near the president. Previous incidents included one at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in April and another near the Washington Monument earlier in May.

Sources