Washington D.C. - A security incident unfolded Monday afternoon on the National Mall, culminating in a Secret Service officer discharging a firearm. The event, which occurred near the Washington Monument and in proximity to the White House, led to a brief lockdown of the executive mansion and a heightened police presence. One individual was shot, and a bystander sustained a graze wound during the encounter.
Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn stated that plainclothes agents observed a man displaying a firearm around 3:30 p.m. As uniformed officers approached, the individual attempted to flee and subsequently fired his weapon toward the agents. Authorities recovered a firearm at the scene. Quinn indicated that the suspect's gunfire is believed to have been the cause of the bystander's injury. The condition of the bystander was not immediately disclosed.
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The Metropolitan Police Department of D.C. has taken charge of the investigation into the shooting, including the use of force by the Secret Service. The incident prompted the Secret Service to direct journalists present on the North Lawn of the White House to move indoors to the press briefing room at approximately 3:41 p.m. ET. President Donald Trump was reportedly holding a small business event at the White House at the time.
This occurrence follows closely on the heels of another security concern near the White House. Just over a week prior, an armed individual attempted to breach the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, injuring a Secret Service officer. That incident, involving a suspect named Cole Tomas, had already led to increased security measures in central Washington.
The National Mall, a frequent site for public gatherings and demonstrations, is located a short distance from the White House. The area where the shooting took place is near 15th Street and Independence Avenue. The immediate vicinity experienced a significant law enforcement response as emergency crews attended to the injured and authorities secured the scene.
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