The White House was temporarily placed on lockdown on Monday afternoon, May 4, following a shooting incident near the Washington Monument.
The situation unfolded around 3:45 p.m. at the junction of 15th Street and Independence Avenue, close to the presidential residence, after law enforcement officers shot an unidentified individual.
At the time, Donald Trump was hosting a small business event inside the White House. Despite the security scare, the event continued as planned while the Secret Service swiftly escorted journalists from the North Lawn to the briefing room and secured the premises.
Authorities later lifted the lockdown after confirming there was no ongoing threat to the White House complex.
Details regarding the condition of the individual involved and the circumstances surrounding the shooting have not yet been disclosed. Meanwhile, the Secret Service has urged the public to steer clear of the National Mall area as investigations and emergency operations continue.
The incident comes amid heightened security concerns in Washington, D.C., particularly following a recent assassination attempt on President Trump during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. In that attack, a suspect identified as Cole Tomas Allen reportedly opened fire at a security checkpoint, injuring a Secret Service agent, who survived due to wearing a ballistic vest.