A uniformed Secret Service officer shot and critically wounded a man who brandished a gun outside the White House Friday afternoon, authorities said.

The U.S. Secret Service said in a statement that the man approached a security gate on E Street Northwest shortly after 3 p.m. carrying a gun.

In the statement, the agency said the man refused numerous orders to drop the weapon and was shot. Two law enforcement officials said he was shot once in the chest and rushed to a hospital in critical condition. Authorities said a firearm was recovered.

Two officials said federal agents with bomb sniffing dogs were searched the suspected gunman’s vehicle — a white 4-door sedan — near 17th Street and Constitution Avenue. Authorities found ammunition for a .22 caliber weapon, two law enforcement officials said.