A Secret service officer responds to the shooting outside the White House on Saturday. Panic unfolded outside the White House on Sunday evening after a gunman opened fire near a security checkpoint, forcing journalists and visitors to scramble for safety as Secret Service agents responded with gunfire and killed the suspect. The dramatic incident occurred around 6 pm local time while several television crews were reporting live from the White House North Lawn. ABC News correspondent Selina Wang was recording a video when the sound of rapid gunshots suddenly interrupted the broadcast. “It sounded like dozens of gunshots,” Wang later wrote on X, describing the chaos that erupted moments later as reporters ducked behind barriers and rushed for cover. NBC News journalist Julie Tsirkin was also caught in the confusion. Cameras continued rolling as reporters tried to understand what was happening before security personnel ordered everyone off the lawn and into the White House press briefing room. Another reporter who had been speaking on camera abruptly removed his microphone wire and ran after hearing the shots nearby. According to the US Secret Service, the suspect pulled a weapon from a bag and began firing near a White House checkpoint before agents returned fire. The assailant was killed in the exchange, while at least one bystander was also injured during the shooting. President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time of the incident but was not harmed, Secret Service communications chief Anthony Guglielmi confirmed in an official statement. Eyewitnesses described scenes of confusion and fear. “We heard probably 20 to 25 shots. At first it sounded like fireworks, and then everyone started running,” Canadian tourist Reid Adrian told AFP. The shooting has once again raised concerns over security surrounding Trump, who has faced multiple threats and alleged assassination attempts in recent years. Just last month, an armed man breached a security checkpoint near a Washington hotel hosting the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which Trump was attending. Secret Service agents quickly intercepted and arrested the suspect. In July 2024, Trump survived an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman killed one audience member and grazed Trump’s ear with a bullet. Months later, another armed suspect was arrested near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach. Following the repeated security scares, Trump has strongly advocated for expanded protective infrastructure at the White House. His administration is currently overseeing construction of a massive new ballroom complex reportedly designed with advanced security measures, including underground facilities and drone-resistant protections. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World. Megha Rawat is an Assistant News Editor at Times Now, where she drives the national news narrative with sharp political reporting, election coverage a... View More