US Secret Service exchanged gunfire with armed man near Washington Monument

U.S. Secret Service officers near the Washington Monument shot an armed man on May 4.

The man allegedly fired at the officers, the Associated Press reported.

Armed suspect

According to Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn, plainclothes officers patrolling the outer perimeter of the White House complex spotted the man at about 3:30 pm (local time).

They supposedly saw the "imprint of the weapon" on him, which led to the officers following him and contacting uniformed officers.

When the uniformed officers approached their suspect, the armed man attempted to flee.

Shooting

He then allegedly fired at the officers, who returned fire and shot him.

The man was then transported to a local hospital, although Quinn did not disclose his condition.

Emergency personnel also transported a minor who was shot but did not sustain life-threatening injuries.

Quinn said he could not ascertain if the bystander, who was taken to a hospital, was shot by the alleged gunman.

However, he noted that “investigators believe he was struck by the suspect.”

JD Vance

U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s motorcade transited through the area "not long" before the incident, Reuters reported.

However, there was no indication that the alleged gunman intended to approach Vance’s motorcade.

The incident resulted in a brief lockdown of the White House, where U.S. President Donald Trump was holding a business event.

Secret Service officers ushered journalists who were outside into the briefing room. Trump proceeded to continue his event without interruption.

The incident comes a week after another armed gunman stormed the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at a hotel.

A Secret Service officer was shot in that incident, but did not sustain life-threatening injuries.

Quinn said that it was not known if the incident on May 4 was related to Trump.

“Whether or not it was directed to the president or not, I don’t know, but we will find out," he said.