U.S. media reports say President Donald Trump was abruptly evacuated from the White House briefing room by security on Monday after shots were fired outside the building.
Trump reportedly returned to the briefing room minutes later, confirming a shooting.
"There was a shooting outside of the White House and it seems to be very well under control. I'd like to thank the Secret Service for doing their always quick and very effective work," Trump said when he returned, according to CNN.
The Secret Service reportedly said in a statement late Monday evening that the incident had begun when a 51-year-old man approached a Secret Service Officer at 17th Street Northwest and Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest near the White House.
The suspect approached the officer and told the officer he had a weapon. According to the statement, the suspect then turned around, ran aggressively toward the officer, and in a drawing motion, withdrew an object from his clothing. He then crouched into a shooter's stance as if about to fire a weapon. The Secret Service officer discharged his weapon striking the individual in the torso."
Two law enforcement sources told CNN that the wounded person was unarmed.
