Man shoots himself in front of tourists at White House

A man killed himself with a handgun on the crowded pedestrian avenue in front of the White House, it was confirmed yesterday.

The US Secret Service said a white man approached a fence north of the US president’s official residence in Washington, DC, at 11.46am on Saturday, “removed a concealed handgun and fired several rounds, none of which appear at this time to have been directed towards the White House”.

The man’s identity is being withheld pending notification of his family, the Secret Service said.

Up to 100 people, mostly tourists, were on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House at the time of the incident but no one else was hurt, authorities reported.

Police and medical personnel surrounded the area and the White House was placed on lockdown.

The area north of the president’s residence was cleared and cordoned off. Police also draped yellow crime-scene tape along a block of nearby K Street, where authorities searched a parked car.

At the time, President Donald Trump and first lady Melania were at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Mr Trump returned to Washington later that day to attend the annual Gridiron Club media dinner.

“We are aware of the incident,” deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley said. “The president has been briefed.”

Reporters in the White House briefing room first tweeted about the shooting, saying they had been told to find shelter where they were.

Disturbances are not unusual at the White House. On February 23, a woman was arrested after crashing her vehicle into a security barrier near the presidential residence.

There have also been repeated attempts by people to gain access to the grounds, including jumping over fences around the building.

Reporters in the White House briefing room first tweeted the shooting after they were told to take shelter