A shooting incident near the White House prompted a major security response after reports of gunfire were heard close to a Secret Service checkpoint on Saturday evening.Journalists gathered on the North Lawn reported hearing around 20 shots shortly after 6 p.m.local time.The gunfire appeared to come from the area near the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which is located within the wider White House complex.Following the incident, Secret Service officers quickly escorted members of the press indoors while law enforcement secured the surrounding area.

According to Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi, authorities were investigating reports of shots fired near the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C.Officials were also working to verify the sequence of events and determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that FBI agents were assisting the Secret Service in the investigation.President Donald Trump was reportedly inside the White House at the time of the shooting and remained secure throughout the incident.White House spokesperson Steven Cheung stated that the president had been on the premises since the afternoon.

The article notes that the security scare comes only weeks after another incident involving an armed individual breaching a security checkpoint near an event connected to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.Authorities have not yet released detailed information about the suspect, the motive, or whether anyone besides the gunman was injured.Investigations into the shooting remain ongoing.