Suspect killed after firing at officers at White House, Trump safe — as it happened

Officers shot a suspect who fired at a White House checkpoint on Saturday evening, who then died after being taken to the hospital, the Secret Service said.

A person approached the checkpoint at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House, pulled a gun out of his bag and started shooting at officers, according to a Secret Service statement posted on social media.

Law enforcement officers investigate the scene of a shooting near the White House. Source: EPA / Jim Lo Scalzo

Officers returned fire and shot the suspect, the agency said.

A bystander was also struck by gunfire, but it was not clear how badly the person was hurt, according to a separate Secret Service statement cited by multiple news outlets.

The statement said it was not clear who fired the shot that hit the bystander.

Two people, including the suspect, were shot and taken to a local hospital. The suspect later died. Source: AP / CNP/ABACA/PA

The shooting suspect was identified as an emotionally disturbed person, a law enforcement official told Reuters, adding that a "stay-away order" had been issued to him previously.

No law enforcement personnel were injured, the Secret Service said.

President Donald Trump was at the White House during the incident, the Secret Service said.

— Reuters, Alexandra Koster

The Secret Service has confirmed that Donald Trump was in the White House during the incident.

Trump's assistant Steven Cheung says the president is still working.

The Secret Service also said the suspect has now died.

"Shortly after 6pm Saturday an individual in the area of 17th street and Pennsylvania Avenue pulled a weapon from his bag and began firing," the Secret Service said in a statement.

"Secret Service Police returned fire striking the suspect who was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased. During the shooting one bystander was also struck by gunfire."

"No injuries were sustained by officers.

"The President was in the White House during the incident, however no protectees or operations were impacted.

"This incident remains under investigation and additional information will be released as it becomes available."

— Alexandra Koster

Multiple journalists and reporters were on the White House lawn when the gunshots rang out.

A reporter from US' ABC News was filming a social media video when the shots were fired and could be seen ducking to the ground.

Another clip shared on social media appeared to show a television reporter confused about the sounds.

One CBS News producer said journalists were put into lockdown after the gunfire.

— Alexandra Koster

The White House was momentarily placed in lockdown after multiple shots were heard on the lawns.

Here's what we know so far:

• Two people were shot near the White House, with both in a critical condition, according to the US Secret Service and the Associated Press. One was an innocent bystander.
• The suspect has been detained and taken to the hospital. They had approached a checkpoint near the White House and fired at officers, according to Reuters.
• US President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time the shots were heard. He was working on the Iran deal at the time. The White House has yet to comment.
• FBI director Kash Patel said his agency was supporting the Secret Service "responding to shots fired near White House grounds".
• Dramatic video shared by ABC US reporter Selina Wang shows her ducking for cover while filming a report on the White House lawns as shots rang out around her.

— Rashida Yosufzai

Associated Press is also reporting that the Secret Service has shot a person near the White House, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The official said a bystander was also shot.

Both individuals were said to be in critical condition.

— Associated Press, Alexandra Koster

Officers at a White House checkpoint responded to gunshots on Saturday evening, and a shooting suspect was "down" and taken to a hospital, a law enforcement official told Reuters.

A person approached the checkpoint at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House and started shooting at officers, according to the official.

The suspect is "down" and was transported to George Washington Hospital, the official said. He did not specify the suspect's condition or how he was brought down.

The suspect was identified as an emotionally disturbed person, the official said, adding that a "stay-away order" had been issued to the suspect previously.

Earlier, the United States Secret Service said it was investigating the incident and FBI director Kash Patel said his agency was supporting the probe.

— Reuters

Here are some photos of the streets around the White House as it was plunged into lockdown almost an hour ago.

A Secret Service police officer is pictured running at the White House after gunshots were fired outside of the building. Source: AP / Jose Luis Magana

Police and members of the Secret Service blocked streets around the White House after multiple gunshots were heard in the area. Source: AP / Alex Brandon

A firetruck departs as police and members of the Secret Service block streets around the White House. Source: AP / Alex Brandon

— Alexandra Koster

The scene is near where a gunman ambushed two members of the West Virginia National Guard last November.

US Army specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from her wounds. Andrew Wolfe, then 24, was critically wounded. Rahmanullah Lakanwal was charged in that incident.

The gunfire today comes nearly a month after what law enforcement authorities said was an attempted assassination of the president on 25 April as he attended the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at a Washington hotel. Cole Tomas Allen, of Torrance, California, recently pleaded not guilty to charges that he attempted to kill Trump and remains in custody.

Following that scare, Secret Service officers shot a suspect they said had fired at officers near the Washington Monument, also near the White House. Michael Marx, 45, of Midland, Texas, was charged in a complaint filed in US district court in connection with the 4 May shooting. A teenage bystander was wounded in that incident.

— Associated Press

Reuters news agency is reporting that the scene has been "contained" and no law enforcement personnel have been injured, according to a United States law enforcement official.

The suspect has been detained and taken to the hospital.

The suspect approached a checkpoint near the White House and fired at officers, the official told Reuters.

— Alexandra Koster

US President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time the shots were heard.

He had just announced that a deal with Iran had been "largely negotiated", with the proposal including opening the crucial Strait of Hormuz, though the agreement was "subject to finalisation".

Read more about that announcement here.

— Rashida Yosufzai

The White House lawn has now been cleared by the Secret Service, according to United States broadcaster ABC News.

There are multiple reports that the lockdown has been lifted, though there has been no official word from the White House yet.

CBS News is reporting that two people, including a suspect, have been wounded.

"Two people were wounded in a shooting near the White House, law enforcement sources told CBS News," the broadcaster wrote.

"The two people, a suspect and a possible bystander, were taken to an area hospital, the sources said. The suspect was in critical condition, and the second person was in serious condition, the sources said."

"The sources said it appears that Secret Service agents were shot at, unsuccessfully, and returned fire."

— Alexandra Koster

The US Secret Service says it is aware of reports of shots being fired on 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW near the White House.

“We … are working to corroborate the information with personnel on the ground. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.”

— Rashida Yosufzai

Several journalists reported hearing shots on the lawns.

ABC US White House correspondent was recording a piece to camera when she found herself ducking for cover as shots rang out around her and someone in the back could be heard saying “down!”

— Rashida Yosufzai

There are reports of shots being fired around the White House lawns, according to multiple United States media reports.

FBI director Kash Patel says his agency is on the scene and supporting the Secret Service who are “responding to shots fired near White House grounds”.

“We will update the public as we’re able," he added.

— Rashida Yosufzai