The gunman who allegedly fired shots outside the White House on Saturday has died … according to a statement from the United States Secret Service.
The Chief of Communications for the United States Secret Service, Anthony Guglielmi, tells TMZ … shortly after 6 PM ET an individual on 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue — very close to the White House — “pulled a weapon from his bag and began firing.”
Secret Service returned fire, Guglielmi says … striking the suspect who was taken to a hospital where the suspect died. A bystander was also struck during the shooting. Officers did not sustain injuries during the shooting.
I was in the middle of taping on my iPhone for a social video from the White House North Lawn when we heard the shots. It sounded like dozens of gunshots. We were told to sprint to the press briefing room where we are holding now. pic.twitter.com/iqdQwh4soq
@selinawangtv
Reporters were rushed to the White House Briefing Room during the incident … and the dramatic moment was caught in the background of a reporter’s live bulletin.
The gunfire rang out Saturday afternoon while Selina Wang — a reporter for ABC News — was in the middle of giving a report.
Check out the clip … Wang powers through the beginning of her report before realizing the sound might be gunfire and jumping to the ground.
According to her … reporters were instructed to go to the White House Briefing Room where they were on lockdown. The lockdown was lifted shortly after the gunshots were heard.
To be clear … we don’t know if the gunshots were fired at the White House or simply nearby — but, the fact that the lockdown was lifted so quickly is a positive sign.
Outside the press briefing doors right now…
USSS officers, gun drawn, told us to run inside
White House now on lockdown pic.twitter.com/CdgKkKoSZu
@news_jul
NBC News Correspondent Julie Tsirkin shared photos from inside the briefing room during the lockdown … in which a U.S. Secret Service agent stood guard — gun drawn — outside.
The Secret Service has released a statement in which they say they’re looking into the incident which they believe occurred on a street adjacent to the White House … not on the White House grounds.
President Donald Trump is in the White House as negotiations with Iran to end the war there continue.
Story developing …
