WASHINGTON, USA – A man armed with a firearm was shot by U.S. Secret Service personnel outside the White House on Sunday, March 9, 2025, the morning after an armed confrontation, the agency announced.
According to Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi, the agency had been alerted to a “suicidal individual” traveling to Washington, D.C., from Indiana.
The individual, a 27-year-old man, was reportedly considered armed, emotionally disturbed, and potentially seeking a “suicide by cop” scenario, according to a “Be on the Lookout” (BOLO) alert issued by law enforcement in North Manchester, Indiana.
President Donald Trump was not at the White House at the time of the incident.
Armed Confrontation Near White House
Secret Service personnel located a person matching the BOLO description near the White House and identified his parked vehicle.
“As officers approached, the individual brandished a firearm and an armed confrontation ensued, during which shots were fired by our personnel,” Guglielmi said in a statement.
Law enforcement sources briefed on the incident said the man was on foot outside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, just a block from the White House, when officers encountered him.
The man initially pointed the gun at himself and ignored multiple commands to drop the weapon before turning it in the direction of Secret Service officers, prompting them to open fire, according to sources.
The suspect was taken to a hospital, but his condition remains unknown. No Secret Service personnel were injured during the incident.
Investigation Underway
Authorities later recovered a second firearm—a rifle—inside the suspect’s vehicle.
The District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police Department, MPD, Internal Affairs Division Force Investigations Team will lead the probe, as it is the primary agency responsible for investigating officer-involved shootings in Washington, D.C., Guglielmi confirmed.
The MPD issued a brief statement Sunday, saying they had no further details on the ongoing investigation.
