A White House official said: “No-one within or associated with the White House was injured and everyone in the White House is safe and accounted for”. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity for lack of authorization to release the information, said the person approached the Secret Service officer and drew a weapon, and then the officer opened fire.
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The building was placed on lockdown while the incident was ongoing.
Jesse Olivieri, 30, is accused of wielding a gun at a White House security gate.
The White House went on lockdown after the incident, which took place just off 17th and E Streets, close to what is known as the South Lawn outside the home and office of the president.
“The Secret Service recovered a firearm at the scene”, the statement said.
“Secret Service Uniformed Division Officers and an agent provided medical aid to the subject”.
Police told ABC News that a man had brandished a gun at a security checkpoint near the White House on Friday and was shot in the stomach.
Police said the shooting was on West Executive Drive, about a block from the White House.
Federal agents found ammunition inside a Toyota sedan, parked nearby, that the gunman was believed to have driven, a USA law enforcement official told The Associated Press. He apparently said he wanted to die while, he was approaching the White House.
Obama was not at the White House.
“Some people were in a panic because when they hear the secret service shouting they know it’s serious”.
The Secret Service agents also rushed to Vice President Joe Biden for additional security.
The most recent shooting incident on Friday will certainly be subject to further internal and external investigations.
Last month, a man threw his backpack over the north fence and climbed over.
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Friday’s shooting was being investigated by several federal agencies, though by evening D.C. police had assumed command because of involvement by a law enforcement officer.
