This is not the way a reporter normally handles their updates from the White House grounds.
It’s been a rainy, crappy day in D.C., and some of the press had little shelters while others were out on the lawn under the trees, doing what they do with all the news about the Iran deal or no deal in the air.
And it suddenly got spicy.
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
— Selina Wang (@selinawangtv) May 23, 2026
Some reporters are quicker to duck and cover than others.
New footage of the shooting near the White House pic.twitter.com/aTDtFD2onU
— Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) May 23, 2026
Woof.
There were upwards of thirty shots ringing in the air as panicked reporters were hustled into the White House press room for their own safety.
Reports are coming in that three of the shots were from a man brandishing a pistol and firing towards the White House, and the rest of the fusillade was the Secret Service agents returning fire.
🚨: DC law enforcement tells me Secret Service shot two men outside the White House, at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Ave.
1 unconscious/not breathing.
The other conscious/breathing.
No injuries to LE.
Hearing more info on the circumstances but working on confirmation.
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) May 23, 2026
There were no injuries to law enforcement, according to reports. Right now, the shooter is in critical condition, and unfortunately, a bystander was hit as well.
🚨 JUST IN: The White House shooter reportedly FAILED to injure Secret Service or other law enforcement, and is in critical condition
Secret Service lit him up immediately, but so far, there is one other civilian who was injured
It has to stop! pic.twitter.com/4FkapuhglP
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 23, 2026
The tiny red dot on the left-hand side of this overhead shot will give you an idea of how close to the White House this happened and why the Secret Service was the agency to respond in such an apparently overwhelming force.
The gunman never got inside the White House perimeter. Well done, Secret Service.
D.C. Fire & EMS is responding to the corner of 17th Street NW and Pennsylvania Avenue NW on the northwest corner of the White House for two patients following the report of several shots fired that placed the campus on lockdown. pic.twitter.com/87T6A1C4CP
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) May 23, 2026
Not a word yet on any ID of the shooter or the condition of the poor person who was hit in the crossfire.
Finding more video now of the moment the shots rang out.
WATCH: Video captures the moment several shots were fired near the White House. pic.twitter.com/13xWGSrQT2
— Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) May 23, 2026
More video of the press booking for safety.
🚨 NOW: Footage released of people RUNNING inside and Secret Service coming out ARMED on the hunt for an active shooter
Thankfully, President Trump is INSIDE, fully encased by bullet proof windows and security.
The Secret Service hustled press inside. Authorities are… pic.twitter.com/BjVBDcbW1M
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 23, 2026
MORE: The Secret Service has lifted the lockdown, and those reporters are streaming out to see if they can get any more information.
HAPPENING NOW: The White House LOCKDOWN has been lifted, and reporters have been cleared to leave the press briefing room after shots were fired near the White House.
U.S. Secret Service Statement: “We are aware of reports of shots fired near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue… pic.twitter.com/hhH6w0TLIR
— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) May 23, 2026
Patel says the FBI is on scene as you’d imagine.
FBI is on the scene and supporting Secret Service responding to shots fired near White House grounds – we will update the public as we’re able
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) May 23, 2026
Hmm. Fox’s Chad Pergram is saying he was told the gunman came up ‘near’ the 17 gate and lit off some shots.
UPDATE #2: @ChadPergram says a senior admin official told him that a gunman came up “near” the gate 17 and fired approximately three shots at the White House before Secret Service returned fire.
The suspect’s condition is unknown at this time and at least one innocent bystander… pic.twitter.com/LcjhpEqHv9
— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) May 23, 2026
UPDATE: Okay, the White House is saying the shooter approached the SS checkpoint, removed the weapon, and began firing at police officers. Obviously, they returned fire and hit him, and no one is quite sure who hit the bystander.
The shooter was taken to a local hospital and died.
MORE: CNN’s John Miller is sharing what he’s being told – a 21-year-old male, ‘who has been identified TO law enforcement,’ but they are not publicly identifying him.
JUST IN: The suspect who opened fire indiscriminately at U.S. Secret Service agents at a White House checkpoint on 17th Street was a 21-year-old male who had been previously known to D.C. Police and the U.S. Secret Service, according to CNN and NBC News.
CNN’s John Miller: “This… pic.twitter.com/YuYCgsfze7
— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) May 23, 2026
…CNN’s John Miller: “This is a 21-year-old individual. He has been identified to law enforcement. He has not been identified by law enforcement.”
“He was walking on 17th Street… We’re told he reached into a bag and we’ve seen a bag when we look at those crime scene photos.”
“Pulled out the g*n and opened fire in the direction of this secret checkpoint staffed by Secret Service officers.”
MORE: Reuters fills in a few more blanks and, sad to say, I’m STARTING TO SENSE A THEME…
…The suspect was identified as an emotionally disturbed person, the official said, adding that a “stay-away order” had been issued to the suspect previously.
Earlier, the U.S. Secret Service said it was investigating the incident and FBI Director Kash Patel said his agency was supporting the probe.
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