Washington: A United States Secret Service agent on Friday shot a man outside White House leaving him critically injured.
Law enforcement officials said that many tourists were ushered away from the area as police arrived on the security shack near 17th and E streets NW after finding out about the incident. The White House was put on lockdown, and Vice President Biden was secured inside the complex, authorities informed.
President Obama was away golfing at Joint Base Andrews at the time of the incident.
The man was shot once in the chest and was taken to a hospital in critical condition. He was identified as Jesse Olivieri, a Pennsylvania man in his 30s.
Police has not released any other details about the victim or any motive. Authorities found ammunition for a .22-caliber weapon inside the man’s white, four-door sedan, which was found near the scene of the shooting.
The firing on Friday is being seen as another attempt to breach the White House grounds, another in a series of security incidents in recent years near the US President’s official residence.