A US Secret Service Officer stands guard at the gate surrounding the White House. Image Credit: Getty Images
In the early hours of Sunday, March 9, 2025, the U.S. Secret Service engaged in a shooting incident involving an armed man from Indiana near the White House. The individual, described as a “suicidal individual” by local law enforcement, was intercepted by Secret Service agents, leading to an armed confrontation that resulted in the man being shot and subsequently hospitalized.
Incident Overview
Shortly after midnight, Secret Service personnel were alerted by local police about a potentially suicidal individual who had traveled from Indiana to Washington, D.C. The man’s vehicle was located near the intersection of 17th and F Streets NW, in proximity to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which is adjacent to the White House complex. Upon locating the individual nearby, agents approached him, at which point he brandished a firearm, prompting the agents to open fire. The man was transported to a local hospital, and his current condition remains undisclosed. No Secret Service agents were injured during the incident.
Over a dozen evidence markers line 17th & G Streets, NW — a block away from the White House.
From @SecretService: personnel shot an apparent suicidal man during an “armed confrontation” after the man brandished a firearm. @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/pkQK9rUnUD
At the time of the incident, President Donald Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The White House complex was temporarily secured following the shooting, with nearby streets closed off as a precautionary measure. The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division has initiated an investigation into the incident, as is standard protocol in officer-involved shootings.
Historical Context of White House Security Incidents
This event marks the second shooting near the White House during President Trump’s terms in office. The previous incident occurred in August 2020 when a 51-year-old man was shot by Secret Service agents after he allegedly fired shots toward the White House before “running aggressively” toward the agents. President Trump was briefly evacuated from a press briefing during that incident but returned shortly afterward.
In the early hours of Sunday, March 9, 2025, the U.S. Secret Service engaged in a shooting incident involving an armed man from Indiana near the White House. The individual, described as a “suicidal individual” by local law enforcement, was intercepted by Secret Service agents, leading to an armed confrontation that resulted in the man being shot and subsequently hospitalized.
Incident Overview
Shortly after midnight, Secret Service personnel were alerted by local police about a potentially suicidal individual who had traveled from Indiana to Washington, D.C. The man’s vehicle was located near the intersection of 17th and F Streets NW, in proximity to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which is adjacent to the White House complex. Upon locating the individual nearby, agents approached him, at which point he brandished a firearm, prompting the agents to open fire. The man was transported to a local hospital, and his current condition remains undisclosed. No Secret Service agents were injured during the incident.
Over a dozen evidence markers line 17th & G Streets, NW — a block away from the White House.
From @SecretService: personnel shot an apparent suicidal man during an “armed confrontation” after the man brandished a firearm. @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/pkQK9rUnUD
At the time of the incident, President Donald Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The White House complex was temporarily secured following the shooting, with nearby streets closed off as a precautionary measure. The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division has initiated an investigation into the incident, as is standard protocol in officer-involved shootings.
Historical Context of White House Security Incidents
This event marks the second shooting near the White House during President Trump’s terms in office. The previous incident occurred in August 2020 when a 51-year-old man was shot by Secret Service agents after he allegedly fired shots toward the White House before “running aggressively” toward the agents. President Trump was briefly evacuated from a press briefing during that incident but returned shortly afterward.
Historically, the White House and its surrounding areas have been the sites of various security breaches and violent incidents:
2016 Shooting: On May 20, 2016, Jesse Olivieri approached a White House security checkpoint armed with a firearm. He was shot by Secret Service agents and subsequently arrested. Investigations revealed no connections to terrorist organizations. He was sentenced to eight months imprisonment. Not a typo; eight months, not years.
2011 Shooting: On November 11, 2011, Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez fired multiple rifle shots at the White House, with at least seven bullets striking the second floor. Neither President Barack Obama nor First Lady Michelle Obama were present at the time. Ortega-Hernandez was later apprehended and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
1994 Shooting: Francisco Martin Duran fired 29 rounds from a semi-automatic rifle at the White House on October 29, 1994, in an assassination attempt on President Bill Clinton. Duran was subdued by bystanders and sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Secret Service Protocols and Training
The U.S. Secret Service is tasked with protecting the President, the Vice President, their immediate families, and visiting foreign dignitaries, as well as securing the White House and other designated locations. Agents undergo rigorous training to handle a wide array of threats, from armed individuals to coordinated attacks. The agency operates under strict protocols to assess and neutralize potential threats while minimizing harm to the public and themselves.
In incidents involving armed individuals near the White House, the Secret Service follows a graduated response protocol:
Identification and Assessment: Agents identify the potential threat and assess the individual’s intentions based on behavior, intelligence reports, and situational context.
Verbal Commands: The individual is given clear and loud verbal commands to disarm and surrender. Compliance at this stage can lead to a peaceful resolution.
Use of Non-Lethal Measures: If the individual does not comply but does not present an immediate lethal threat, agents may employ non-lethal measures such as tasers or pepper spray.
Use of Lethal Force: If the individual poses an immediate threat to the lives of the agents or others, lethal force is authorized and employed to neutralize the threat.
These protocols are continually reviewed and updated based on emerging threats and past incidents to ensure the highest level of security.
Public and Media Response
In the aftermath of such incidents, public and media scrutiny often intensifies regarding White House security measures and the protocols followed by the Secret Service. While some advocate for increased security and restricted public access to areas surrounding the White House, others argue for maintaining public accessibility to these national landmarks. Balancing security needs with public access remains an ongoing challenge for federal authorities.
Secret Service Uniformed Division Chief Michael Buck provided an on-scene media briefing. Our preliminary statement is below. The @DCPoliceDept will lead the investigation, as they are the primary agency responsible for use-of-force incidents within the District of Columbia. pic.twitter.com/Aqv6djUzbV
The shooting incident involving an armed Indiana man near the White House underscores the persistent security challenges faced by the U.S. Secret Service. While the agency’s swift response ensured the immediate threat was neutralized without harm to its personnel, the event serves as a reminder of the ever-present risks associated with protecting national leaders and landmarks.
Continuous evaluation and adaptation of security protocols are essential to address evolving threats and to safeguard both officials and the public.
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