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World
U.S. Secret Service agents opened fire on an armed man in downtown Washington, prompting a temporary closure of the White House, according to officials.
Elements of the U.S. Secret Service opened fire on an armed man in downtown Washington, according to officials, prompting a temporary closure of the White House.
Deputy Director of the agency, Matthew Quinn, announced that the shooting occurred near the National Mall building shortly after the motorcade of Vice President JD Vance passed through the area.
Quinn told reporters that he does not believe the Vice President was a target, and he cannot speculate whether the incident is related to recent assassination attempts on President Donald Trump.
He explained, "I will not speculate on that," adding, "I don't know if the shooting was directed at the President or not, but we will find out."
Quinn noted that the shooting occurred after Secret Service agents spotted a "suspicious person" who appeared to be carrying a firearm.
He said the man fled on foot after officers approached him, then brandished his weapon and opened fire.
He added that Secret Service agents returned fire and hit him, and he was taken to the hospital; his condition was not immediately known.
Quinn pointed out that a passerby, a minor, sustained minor injuries.
This incident comes about a week after an armed man attempted to storm a hotel in Washington where Trump was attending a White House Correspondents' Association dinner.
