Trump says gunman had 'violent history and possible obsession' with White House
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the gunman who opened fire on Secret Service officers outside the White House had a "violent history and possible obsession" with the building.
"Thank you to our great Secret Service and Law Enforcement for the swift and professional action taken this evening against a gunman near the White House, who had a violent history and possible obsession with our Country's most cherished structure," he said in a post on Truth Social.
Officers shot a suspect who fired at a White House checkpoint on Saturday evening, who then died after being taken to the hospital, the Secret Service said.
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A person approached the checkpoint at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House, pulled a gun out of his bag and started shooting at officers, according to a Secret Service statement posted on social media. Officers returned fire and shot the suspect, the agency said.
A bystander was also struck by gunfire, but it was not clear how badly the person was hurt, according to a separate Secret Service statement cited by multiple news outlets. The statement said it was not clear who fired the shot that hit the bystander.
The shooting suspect was identified as an emotionally disturbed person, a law enforcement official told Reuters, adding that a "stay-away order" had been issued to him previously.
No law enforcement personnel were injured, the Secret Service said.
President Donald Trump was at the White House during the incident, the Secret Service said.
