WASHINGTON (AFP) - A man fatally shot himself on the crowded pedestrian avenue directly in front of the White House on Saturday (March 3), officials said.
“Adult male has been declared deceased,” the Washington, DC Police Department said on Twitter.
The Secret Service said a white male approached the fence north of the White House at about 11.46am (12.46am on Sunday, Singapore time), “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 kin, the Secret Service said in a statement.
While as many as 100 people – mostly tourists – were on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House at the time, no one else was reported hurt, the Secret Service said.
Police and medical personnel quickly swarmed the area, and the White House was placed on lockdown.
The area north of the White House was cleared and cordoned off.
http://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/white-house-on-lockdown-after-shots-fired
