President Donald Trump’s press briefing was interrupted Monday after U.S. Secret Service shot an armed suspect outside the White House.
In a statement on the incident released Monday night, the Secret Service said a 51-year-old male suspect approached a Secret Service Uniformed Division officer and warned the officer that he was armed and then made a motion to suggest he was about to draw his weapon and attack.
“Statement from U.S. Secret Service on officer involved shooting.”
Statement from U.S. Secret Service on officer involved shooting: pic.twitter.com/vMP9ypuNh5
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) August 11, 2020
Here’s the full Secret Service statement.
At approximately 5:53 p.m. today, a 51-year-old male approached a U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division officer who was standing on the corner of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. near the White House Complex. The suspect approached the officer and told the officer he had a weapon. The suspect then turned around, ran aggressively towards the officer, and in a drawing motion, withdrew an object from his clothing. He then crouched in a shooter’s stance as if about to fire a weapon. The Secret Service officer discharged his weapon striking the individual in the torso. Officers immediately rendered first aid to the suspect and D.C. Fire and EMS were called to the scene. Both the suspect and the officer were transported to a local hospital.
The White House Complex was not breached during the incident and no Secret Service protectees were ever in danger.
The Secret Service Office of Professional Responsibility will be conducting an internal review of the officer’s actions. The Metropolitan Police Department was contacted to conduct an investigation.
Trump was about three minutes into his press briefing Monday when a Secret Service agent whispered for him to leave the briefing room.
Trump returned to the White House briefing room following the incident.
“It seems that the shooting was done by law enforcement at that person – that suspect,” Trump said.
Trump said no other individuals were injured.
“I just want to thank Secret Service. The job they do – it’s fantastic,” Trump added. “I feel very safe with Secret Service.”
Asked later in the briefing if he was rattled by the incident, Trump responded “I don’t know, do I seem rattled?”
“Trump says law enforcement took down a lone suspect outside the White House. Reporter asks, ‘Are you rattled?’ Trump responds: I don’t know, do I seem rattled? The world’s always been a dangerous place. You look back on the centuries, it’s always been a dangerous place,” one Twitter user posted with a clip from Fox News’ broadcast of the briefing.
Trump says law enforcement took down a lone suspect outside the White House. Reporter asks, “Are you rattled?”
Trump responds: I don’t know, do I seem rattled? The world’s always been a dangerous place. You look back on the centuries, it’s always been a dangerous place. pic.twitter.com/KrQfvrjPmG
— August Takala (@AugustTakala) August 10, 2020
