International Desk: A uniformed Secret Service officer shot and wounded a man during a confrontation near the White House that led to President Donald Trump being abruptly escorted out of a briefing room during a televised news conference Monday, authorities said.
Trump returned to the briefing room minutes later, confirming a shooting near the White House and assured the reporters that things were under control.
“White House seems to be very well under control. I would like to thank the Secret Service for doing their always quick and very effective work, there was an actual shooting and somebody has been taken to the hospital,” Trump said as he resumed the press briefing on the coronavirus pandemic on Monday.
Trump said, “I don’t know the condition of the person. It seems that the person was shot by the Secret Service. So we will see what happens.”
The Secret Service also tweeted confirming an officer-involved shooting at 17th Street Northwest and Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest.
The Secret Service said a “male subject” and one of its officers were transported to a hospital.
An investigation of the shooting “is ongoing” and “at no time during this incident was the White House complex breached or were any protected in danger”, it said.
The secret service agent was seen saying something into his ears, after which the president, calm and composed, walked out of the briefing room.
Trump later told reporters that he was taken to the Oval Office. “We were taken just out over to the Oval Office,” he said.
Trump told reporters that the incident happened outside the White House complex.
“It was outside of the White House in this area right over here and they will have details for you in a little while. Somebody is taken to the hospital. It seems that the shooting was done by the law enforcement at that person, at the suspect, he said.
It was the suspect who was shot and this just took place. A couple of people outside I noticed a man named John Roberts who you know very well he reported that he heard shots. He was outside and he heard two shots, he added.
Detailing the incident, the Secret Service in a press release said that at approximately 5:53 pm, a 51- year-old male approached one of its officers who were standing at his post on the corner of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. near the White House Complex. Trump praised the Secret Service for their professionalism.
Trump said, “It’s unfortunate that this is a world but the world has always been a dangerous place; it’s not something that is unique. The world has been–you look back over the centuries the world has been a dangerous place, a very dangerous place and it will continue I guess for a period of time.”