The White House was placed under a brief lockdown Monday afternoon after a U.S. Secret Service officer-involved shooting near the Washington Monument, authorities said.

The White House was placed under a temporary lockdown Monday afternoon after a United States Secret Service officer exchanged gunfire with an armed individual near the Washington Monument, officials confirmed.

The incident occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of 15th Street SW and Independence Avenue SW in Washington, D.C.. According to preliminary statements from the Secret Service, the unidentified individual was shot during the confrontation and was immediately taken to a nearby hospital. Authorities later indicated that the suspect remains in critical condition, though no official identification has yet been released.

The shooting unfolded shortly after a motorcade carrying U.S. Vice President JD Vance passed through the area, prompting an immediate escalation in security protocols. While officials stressed that there is no indication the vice president was directly targeted, the proximity of the incident led to a swift lockdown of the White House complex as a precaution.

Law enforcement agencies, including the Metropolitan Police Department, responded rapidly, securing the surrounding area and temporarily restricting pedestrian and vehicle access. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots, causing panic among tourists and workers in the vicinity of the National Mall.

Authorities have launched a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the encounter. Early reports suggest that the individual was armed and may have approached a restricted or sensitive security zone, prompting the Secret Service officer to engage. Officials are reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses to determine the sequence of events.

In an updated statement released later in the evening, the Secret Service confirmed that no officers were injured in the exchange, and that there is currently no ongoing threat to the public. However, security measures in and around key federal buildings remained heightened as a precaution.

The incident has once again drawn attention to security challenges in the heavily guarded areas surrounding major U.S. government institutions. The White House lockdown was lifted after authorities deemed the situation under control, but questions remain about how the armed individual was able to approach such a sensitive zone.

Officials have urged the public to avoid speculation as investigations continue, emphasizing that more details—including the suspect’s identity and motive—will be released once confirmed.

The area has since reopened, though an increased security presence remains visible around the White House and nearby landmarks as authorities continue their inquiry. (ILKHA)