The White House was placed under a brief lockdown on Monday afternoon, May 4, following an incident where law enforcement officers discharged their weapons near the Washington Monument. The event unfolded at approximately 3:45 p.m. at the junction of 15th Street and Independence Avenue, a site situated close to the executive residence.
At the time of the shooting, President Donald Trump was engaged in a small business gathering inside the White House. The Secret Service promptly escorted journalists from the North Lawn into the briefing room and secured the premises, while the President continued his scheduled event without any disruption.
The lockdown was lifted shortly after authorities confirmed that no ongoing threat existed to the complex. Details regarding the condition of the individual who was shot and the specific reasons that led to the use of force have not yet been disclosed. The Secret Service has urged the public to steer clear of the National Mall area as emergency crews and investigators carry out their duties.
This incident occurs amid heightened security and extreme tension in the nation's capital. Washington remains on high alert following an assassination attempt on President Trump just nine days ago at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. In that attack, a suspect identified as Cole Tomas Allen allegedly fired a shotgun at a security checkpoint, injuring a Secret Service agent whose life was saved by his ballistic vest.
