UMVA has learned that a shocking incident unfolded near the White House on Saturday evening, leaving one person dead and another in critical condition.
According to information obtained by UMVA, a person approached a security checkpoint near the White House and began shooting at Secret Service officers at around 6 p.m. The Secret Service swiftly responded, returning fire and hitting the suspected shooter, who later succumbed to injuries at a hospital.
The chaos did not end there, as a bystander was also struck by gunfire. The incident remains a blur, with authorities yet to confirm whether the bystander was hit by the suspect's initial gunfire or during the subsequent exchange of gunfire between the suspect and Secret Service agents.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the Secret Service agents involved in the incident were unharmed, but the bystander who was hit by gunfire is in critical condition. The agency took to social media to confirm that no protectees or operations were impacted during the incident, and that the President was safely inside the White House at the time.
The area around the White House was thrown into lockdown, with at least 30 gunshots reportedly heard in the direction of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The lockdown was eventually lifted around 6:46 p.m., but not before the FBI arrived on the scene to support the Secret Service's response to the incident.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that the FBI is actively involved in the investigation, with the Director tweeting that they are working to support the Secret Service and will update the public as more information becomes available.
The incident occurred at a time of heightened tensions, with the U.S. close to finalizing a peace deal with Iran just hours before the shooting took place. The motives behind the shooting remain unclear, but one thing is certain - the incident has sent shockwaves through the nation's capital.
