Man wounded after allegedly shooting at Secret Service near White House, bystander struck
A man was wounded in a shooting involving U.S. Secret Service officers, after he allegedly shot at them near the Washington Monument on Monday afternoon, according to the agency’s deputy director.
The shooting happened at 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW in D.C., near the Sidney R. Yates building where the Forest Service is headquartered, according to the U.S. Secret Service.
A child, whose age isn’t publicly known, was also struck by a bullet during the exchange of gunfire, Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn said during a news conference.
Quinn said plain clothes Secret Service officers noticed a person who appeared to have a firearm while patrolling around the outer perimeter of the White House complex around 3:30 p.m.
They alerted uniformed officers with the Secret Service who tried to approach the man.
“Upon making contact, that individual fled briefly on foot, withdrew a firearm and fired in the direction of our agents and officers. They returned fire and engaged,” Quinn said.
The man was hospitalized after being shot; his condition remains unknown.
The man was later identified as 45-year-old Michael Marx from Texas, D.C. police told WTOP Tuesday.
Police only described the child who was wounded as a juvenile. Quinn said the child was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries that are not considered life threatening. He couldn’t say whether the child was struck when the suspect fired or by return fire.
The shots were fired blocks from the White House, which was briefly put under a lockdown as law enforcement investigated.
“Not long before this shooting occurred, the vice president’s motorcade did transit through this area,” Quinn said.
He said there is no indication Marx was targeting the motorcade.
D.C. police said the scene is “secure” in a social media post. Their department will investigate the Secret Service officers’ use of force.
WTOP’s Alan Etter, who reported from the scene, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.