OAN Staff Lillian Mann and Brooke Mallory
6:28 PM – Monday, May 4, 2026
A security incident on Monday near the Washington Monument resulted in a child bystander being wounded when U.S. Secret Service agents exchanged gunfire with an armed suspect.
According to Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn, the situation began when plainclothes officers identified an individual acting suspiciously and appearing to carry a weapon shortly after Vice President JD Vance’s motorcade had passed through the area.
When uniformed agents moved in to make contact, the suspect drew his firearm and shot at the officers, prompting them to return fire. While the suspect was struck and transported to a hospital, a child nearby was also caught in the crossfire. Fortunately, the child’s injuries were reported as non-life-threatening, and they are currently receiving medical treatment.
The shooting triggered an immediate security response, leading to a brief lockdown of the White House where President Donald Trump was hosting a small business event.
Although Secret Service agents escorted journalists into the briefing room for safety, the president continued his event as scheduled. While the proximity to the vice president’s route and the president’s event raised immediate concerns, Deputy Director Quinn said that it remains “undetermined” whether either official was a specific target or if the incident was related to their presence.
Authorities urged the public to avoid the vicinity of the Washington Monument as emergency crews and investigators processed the scene.
“I’m not going to guess on that,” Quinn said when questioned on the connection to the president. “Whether or not it was directed to the president or not, I don’t know, but we will find out.”
The Metropolitan Police Department has confirmed that its investigators are currently processing the scene to gather evidence and determine the exact sequence of events. While the investigation remains active, officials stated that the perimeter has been fully secured and there is no ongoing threat to the public in the immediate area.
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